SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Some Brazilian players returned to the
hotel drunk after being given time off between matches during the
2006 World Cup, according to the president of the Brazil's soccer
confederation.
A year after Brazil's quarterfinal elimination in Germany,
Ricardo Teixeira said a group of players lacked discipline during
the World Cup, but did not mention anyone specifically, the Estado
de S. Paulo newspaper reported Wednesday.
"There were players who arrived between 4 and 6 in the morning,
drunk," Teixeira said.
Teixeira also criticized Ronaldo for being out of shape during
the competition.
"How can an athlete arrive for a World Cup weighing 98
kilograms (216 pounds)?" he said, adding that it would be
acceptable to him if coach Dunga stopped including the 30-year-old
forward for the national team.
"How old is Ronaldo today? How old is he going to be in the
2010 World Cup? That's all I have to say," Teixeira said. "We
need to find another Ronaldo."
Teixeira also criticized the period Brazil spent practicing in
Switzerland before the World Cup, and insinuated that he hired
Dunga to replace Carlos Alberto Parreira because Brazil needs
"discipline, and that's Dunga's role."