Ronaldo, Zidane aim to shine in repeat of 1998 final

A World Cup quarterfinal meeting between defending champion Brazil and France will bring back contrasting memories for Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane.

France claimed its sole World Cup triumph in 1998 when two goals from Zidane steered them to a 3-0 win over Brazil on home soil.

While Zidane was grabbing the headlines for his match-winning display, former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo became involved in one of the biggest mysteries in soccer history.
 
Ronaldo suffered a mysterious convulsive fit prior to the game. The striker's name was originally omitted from the team-sheet only to reappear just in time for kickoff, but his effectiveness was severely reduced and he was eclipsed by Zidane in a one-sided victory for Les Bleus.

There has never been an adequate explanation, with Brazil team doctor Lidio Toledo eventually forced to reveal Ronaldo had a fit in his sleep before being cleared to play after neurological and cardiac tests, with the player insisting he was OK to take part.

There were claims sponsors Nike had put pressure on coach Mario Zagalo to play Ronaldo, although these were hotly denied.

Now the two teams meet again after Brazil overcame Ghana, 3-0, on Tuesday in which Ronaldo became the leading scorer in World Cup finals history.

Zidane, who is retiring after the tournament, ensured another clash with the Brazilians with the third goal as France beat Spain, 3-1, in the final second-round match.

It took just four minutes for Ronaldo to surpass the goals record set by Germany great Gerd Muller, which he tied in a 4-1 win over Japan on Thursday. Ronaldo has now scored a total of 15 goals at the World Cup finals.

Adriano and Ze Roberto were also on target for the defending champion while Ghana finished the game with 10 men after Asamoah Gyan was sent off with 10 minutes left after he was shown a second yellow card for diving.

Ronaldo, who made his first finals appearance as a 17-year-old with the title-winning team in the United States in 1994, was thrilled at breaking Muller's record.

"I am very happy because Brazil won and scored a lot of goals," Ronaldo said. "I hope we can continue like this. It was never my main goal (to break the record). It just happened. I am very happy for having overtaken a record that has remained for seven World Cups."

"Ronaldo deserves to be right up there at the top of the game's history," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. "He is a special player and setting a World Cup record is a marvelous achievement. Hopefully this will give him the confidence to go on and score more goals."

Despite the score, Ghana, which was appearing in its first World Cup, pushed Brazil with a strong attack.

"The scoreline flattered us. It was not an easy game and Ghana showed they are a good team," Parreira said. "We lacked a bit of coordination and tried to hurry the ball along too much."

"But we did show a lot of character and have secured our place in the quarterfinals, which is the most important thing."

Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic accused Slovakian referee Michel Lubos of bias after his side's adventure came to an end.

"I told him it would be better for us if he put a yellow jersey on," Dujkovic said referring to Brazil's color. "Brazil are unbeatable - and untouchable."

"I am very proud of my players as they gave me everything. The future is bright for Ghana, even though we have gone out of the World Cup."

Meanwhile, the dream goes on for Zidane.

The 34-year-old France captain is bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career after the World Cup finals.

Zidane was suspended for France's vital 2-0 win over Togo which helped it avoid a second successive first-round elimination.

But he returned to wrap up a win over Spain with the final goal in stoppage time as Les Blues ensured Spain's wait for a first World Cup triumph continued.

Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira came up with the winning goal in the 83rd minute for France after Spain's Carlos Puyol was harshly judged with a foul on Thierry Henry.

Spain took the lead in the 28th minute with a penalty kick by David Villa but Franck Ribery equalized in the 41st minute.

"Brazil is clearly going to be a special game," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "But I have only one objective - and that is to play in the World Cup final on July 9. That's my only objective and any inquests that need to be held can come after July 9."

Spain coach Luis Aragones felt the Puyol-Henry incident was not a foul.

"For me the referee blew for a non-existent foul for the second goal," Aragones said. "As for the third goal, the game was practically over already when that went in."

France will face Brazil in Frankfurt on Saturday for a place in the semifinals.