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Current players are weak: Romario

April 27, 2005 11:29 IST
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Former World Cup striker Romario says he is still playing professional football in Brazil at 39 because the rest of the players are not up to much.

"Something that motivates me is that, technically, the gang (other players) are really weak," he told reporters in a media conference on the eve of his official farewell international.

Romario, who was apparently referring to the standard of domestic football, has been picked as the 23rd player in the squad for Brazil's friendly at home to Guatemala on Wednesday.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said the former PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Valencia striker is likely to play the first few minutes before being substituted.

"This is definitely my last game for Brazil," said Romario, adding he would rather the match had been held at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium rather than Sao Paulo's Pacaembu.

"It would not be true to say that this is the ideal place for my farewell. I've always told the truth and I'm not going to stop today," said Romario. "The ideal would be the Maracana because Rio de Janeiro is my home."

Wednesday's game could provide the chance for Romario to line up, albeit briefly, alongside Robinho, considered the best of Brazil's latest generation of players.

The Santos striker, 18 years Romario's junior, avoided comparisons.

"Romario is Romario, Robinho is Robinho," he said. "I don't think there's any similarity apart from the colour. He's as black as I am but he's shorter, I'm taller, he's stronger and I'm a bit more frail."

"Romario is a player who can't be compared to anyone else," added Robinho. "He has always scored goals, he has always decided matches. I've still got a lot to learn in football."

Brazil have picked a squad of home-based players for Wednesday's game, which has been arranged to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a television network.

Guatemala were the fourth choice opponents after Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador all turned down the invitation.

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Source: REUTERS
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