World and European footballer of the year Ronaldinho pleaded with the referees to look after him and his World Cup title holding teammates Brazil during the World Cup finals getting underway in Munich from Friday.
The Barcelona playmaker added that he and his teammates were itching to get started - they play 1998 semi-finalists Croatia in their opening match in Berlin next Tuesday - as they bid to win a sixth World Cup for their country.
However, Ronaldinho said that he hoped the referees would pay special attention to their opponents in trying to stifle their flowing attacking style of football.
"All the teams are waiting for us and will be doubly alert in paying attention to our attack," said Ronaldinho, who scored a wonder goal four years ago against England in the quarterfinals. That motivates me even more because I know that no player is going to make life easy for us.
It is important that the refereeing is rigorous because of our style of playing." Ronaldinho, though, said he was delighted with the form he was in.
"It is wonderful to be approaching a World Cup finals in the form that I am in. There are no issues of nerves in our camp; we are just gagging to start the tournament. We have of course prepared to do our best, because we know that the World Cup will be difficult if we are not ready. We will not win."
{{/usCountry}}"It is wonderful to be approaching a World Cup finals in the form that I am in. There are no issues of nerves in our camp; we are just gagging to start the tournament. We have of course prepared to do our best, because we know that the World Cup will be difficult if we are not ready. We will not win."
{{/usCountry}}Ronaldinho said he expected group rivals, Croatia, Australia and Japan, to shut up shop in a desperate attempt to close out their imposing attack of himself, Ronaldo and Robinho. Every team we play, regardless of their normal style of play, defend against us," said the former Paris Saint Germain star.
"We are mindful that it is difficult to score goals in that case. The others play tight at the back and will wait to hit us on the counter attack. "However we train as hard as ever in order to break down the defences and beat our rivals," added Ronaldinho.