In Brazil, coming second is the same as coming last

World Player of the Year Ronaldinho says he only thinks about passing the ball to the strikers and not scoring goals when he is playing.

''I don't think about scoring goals but about helping my team to win,'' the Brazilian ace told France's Le Parisien daily.

''My job consists of making passes to strikers. I concentrate on that.'' Brazil will play France on Saturday in the World Cup quarterfinal between the last two world champions. France beat Brazil 3-0 to win the 1998 final in Paris before the South Americans regained the title in Japan four years later.

Ronaldinho said he has thought about the consequences of being eliminated in the quarterfinal.

''As I often say: in Brazil, coming second is the same as coming last,'' he said.

Brazil won their fifth title four years ago and have not lost a World Cup match since being stunned by the French in 1998 when Zinedine Zidane scored two goals.

Saturday's match could be the last for Zidane, who will end his glittering career after the World Cup.

''I admire Zidane a lot for everything he has brought to football. My team members respect him too,'' Ronaldinho said.

''He plays very well and off the pitch he's a good person. All that means it will be a big match, a very interesting one to play.''