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25,000 watch champions Brazil train

By Brian Homewood
June 09, 2006 12:15 IST
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A capacity crowd of around 25,000 watched champions Brazil hold a light World Cup training session in an atmosphere of near-hysteria on Thursday.

The first 20 minutes took place amid the backdrop of loud techno and Brazilian Axe music which was suddenly cut off, possibly on the orders of the coaching staff.

The stadium announcer also provided a running commentary as the players warmed up for practice with a game of pig in the middle.

There were loud screams every time playmakers Ronaldinho and Kaka went near the touchline as the scenes bore more resemblance to a pop concert.

The session, held at the stadium of German second division club Kickers Offenbach, was also interrupted when a teenager breached security and ran on to the field.

LED AWAY

He managed to get an autograph from Ronaldinho before being led away.

Striker Ronaldo was rested because of a slight fever.

Brazil face Croatia in their Group F opener on Tuesday. Their other first-round opponents are Japan and Australia.

It was Brazil's last training session open to the public before the game against Croatia in Berlin.

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Brazil spent the first two weeks of their World Cup preparations in the Swiss lakeside resort of Weggis where a noisy crowd of 5,000 watched the daily practice sessions.

The South Americans attract crowds of up to 80,000 for training sessions at home.

In October, dozens of people were injured in a crush outside the stadium where Brazil were training for a qualifier against Venezuela in Belem.

The 45,000-capacity Mangueirao stadium was full one hour before the session, causing angry fans outside who had been unable to enter to jump over the fences or force open the gates.

In contrast, attendances at Brazilian domestic games, where the big names do not take part, are often pitifully low, even under 5,000 for a first division game.

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Brian Homewood
Source: REUTERS
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