Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has unveiled the names of the 23 players who will make up Brazil's national football team at the World Cup championships. One notable absence is veteran forward Romario.
Coach Scolari slowly read off the names of his team's forwards: Ronaldo, Luizao, Edilson, Denilson and Rivaldo.
Not included in the list was the star of Brazil's 1994 World Cup victory, Romario. A falling out between Scolari and Romario more than a year ago over discipline never healed, and the Brazilian coach was adamant about not including the star player on the national team.
His decision flies in the face of opinion polls, which show most Brazilians want Romario included. "Win or lose, these are my choices," Scolari told reporters Monday when asked about the absence of Romario.
Brazil, a football powerhouse, is a four-time World Cup winner. But its national team had a lackluster year in South American qualifying matches leading up to this World Cup, finishing third in the group.