Ronaldo-Van Nistelrooy Axis Promises Real Results

**zelder** · 10-08-2006, 06:30 PM

08/10/2006 14.51

Fabio Capello has used the fact that both the Brazilian and the Dutchman haven’t been called up – or refused the call-up – to test out the possibility of many a football fan’s front line dream: Ronaldo-Van Nistelrooy as the Merengue strike force.

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Both high-profile centre-forwards were tried out side by side in a game which pitted members of the A team against a team formed by Real Madrid C players. In an eight-goal game the good news for hopeful fans is that five of the goals were stamped with a ‘Van Ronaldo’ seal.

Ronaldo and Ruud Van Nistelrooy proved that rumours that both are incompatible on a pitch are just that: a load of hot air. The Brazilian Fenômeno looked meaner and leaner than before, helping to rinse away distasteful memories from the WC where he arrived weighing 96kg.

Capello fielded the following first eleven, obviously modified by the various call-ups for the Euro 2008 and assorted friendly matches: Diego López, Mejía, Pavón, Raúl Bravo, Roberto Carlos; Beckham, Diarrá, Emerson, Guti; Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo.

Raúl González was kept out of the action as he injured himself lightly in the session beforehand and was rested to avoid worsening a slight problem that shouldn’t keep him out of the next Merengue match. Cassano, with a muscle strain, also trained separately from the rest.

Guti continued to show just why the Coach is trying to find ways to slot him into the first eleven with a mature playmaking performance. Van Nistelrooy scored his first in a great wall pass move with Ronaldo. Roberto Carlos walloped in the second and Van Nistelrooy chipped a great goal in for the third.

Ronaldo scored the fourth, Guti the fifth and Emerson the sixth before Van Nistelrooy and ‘O Fenômeno’ finished things up with a hatrick and a brace respectively. The players left the field looking visibly charged up and happy with their work. The only thing that remains to be seen is when we will see the dynamic duo in action.

Marc Pau

Goal.com invites readers to comment on the Ronaldo-Van Nistelrooy Axis. Is it the ideal front line for Madrid or will the Merengues suffer the same problems as Parreira's Brazil did with Ronaldo and Adriano? Is there room for Reyes, Cassano and/or Robinho? If so, where and how?