OZOIR-LA-FERRIERE (FRANCE), June 8: Ronaldo is practically everybody's choice to win the high-scoring honours for Brazil at the World Cup. The problem is, he's not scoring. Bebeto is Brazil's No 2 striker, a spot he inherited after Romario was cut from the squad with an injured calf muscle. But the 1994 Cup champion isn't finding the net either.Is coach Mario Zagallo worried? Hardly. He has a "backup" pair of strikers in mid-fielders Giovanni and Rivaldo, two converted forwards who have picked up the scoring slack and given Brazil an offensive punch it hasn't had since the storied Cup team of 1982.The duo from FC Barcelona were it again yesterday, when Zagallo held an intra-squad scrimmage that pitted starters against reserves in a simulation of Wednesday's opener with Scotland.With Ronaldo getting tight coverage, Giovanni got loose in the penalty area to tap in the first goal in a 2-0 victory for the `A' team. Rivaldo also scored and put another ball on the crossbar with a delicate lob shot thatdrew applause from the fans that flocked to watch the Brazilians practice.The script has been similar in other practice games ever since Brazil came to France last month, in quest of an unprecedented fifth title. In a 1-1 exhibition game tie last week with Spain's Atletico Bilbao, Rivaldo got the Brazilian goal. When Brazil beat Andorra 3-0, Giovanni and Rivaldo each tallied, along with defender Cafu.Giovanni knows he could have a rare opportunity to shine as opposing defenders concentrate on stopping Ronaldo, the two-time FIFA Player of the Year. "Our adversaries will pay a lot of attention to Ronaldo. The marking will be tough," Giovanni said. "That means more open spaces for us."Zagallo has had high praise for Giovanni in the training camp, where he has shown tactical discipline in marking and creativity on offence. This week, Zagallo said Giovanni would get extra duties as play-maker and offensive coordinator. "It's a new function," the coach said. "I want him to be our third attacker." But it'salso quite a turnaround for the 26-year-old Amazon native. Giovanni was a surprise on the 22-player roster - not that anyone doubted his talent, but Giovanni often seemed cool and distant during games. Many felt he was included simply because of his good on-field relationship with Rivaldo, a Zagallo favourite.When Brazil lost Romario, Zagallo didn't call a direct replacement but instead summoned Emerson, an extra mid-fielder. With Giovanni and Rivaldo as possible backups for Ronaldo, Bebeto, Edmundo and Denilson, who needed one more?For Ronaldo, his current scoring drought is not a concern. "The team is evolving every day. We have very few things to improve," he said. "We don't have to worry about our adversaries - they have to worry about us."
