Ronaldo: Huge pressure on Brazil to win World Cup

The 2002 World Cup winner knows the crushing pressure this year’s team is feeling with everyone expecting a sixth title to come on home soil. Ronaldo is currently a member of the local 2014 World Cup organising committee and was speaking at a news conference at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. […]
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sambafoot_admin
2014-03-28 16:24:00

The 2002 World Cup winner knows the crushing pressure this year’s team is feeling with everyone expecting a sixth title to come on home soil.

Ronaldo is currently a member of the local 2014 World Cup organising committee and was speaking at a news conference at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

“The players, when they don’t know if they are going to win or lose, by definition, they are under enormous pressure,” said the 37-year-old.

“Of course, playing in your own country is an additional responsibility.”

“Brazilian people of course hope that all is perfect with Brazil winning. … We have a great team, but the pressure is huge. But hasn’t it always been very, very important for the Brazilian team as the favourite? So the Brazilian players are just used to this huge pressure.”

Jose Maria Marin, head of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), was slightly blunter with his assessment.

“What (Brazilian) people really, really expect in the World Cup is to win the championship.”

“So we’re still in purgatory. So either we all work together … or it’s either to hell, or paradise or heaven. I’m confident we’ll all go together to heaven.”