Ronaldo’s hot tips for bookies

Ronaldo, twice World Player of the Year, made his international comeback against Yugslavia in March after being out injured for 2-1/2 years.

He has not scored since his return and will aim to break his duck in Saturday’s friendly against Malaysia, Brazil’s last before the World Cup. “I’m not very anxious, the goals will come of their own accord,” he said. “I’ll just have to work hard, move around a lot and the goal will come at the right time.” Ronaldo predicted Brazil’s attack, which features Rivaldo with Ronaldinho Gaucho as the attacking mid-fielder, was destined for great things.

Totti back in full training

SENDAI (Italy): Italy playmaker Francesco Totti returned to full training with the rest of his team mates on Thursday after suffering a niggling thigh injury.

Coach Giovanni Trapattoni said there was no cause for concern about the fitness of the AS Roma mid-fielder who missed the run-in to the Serie A season and Italy’s friendly defeat by the Czech Republic on Saturday. “I am not worried about Totti’s condition but it as at the point where we still need to pay attention to him. Of course he is very important to us,” Trapattoni told reporters. Totti had undergone a lighter, training programme during Italy’s pre-World Cup camp in Florence last week. The importance of Totti to Trapattoni’s plans was illustrated in Saturday’s poor showing without him against the Czechs.