Brazil stars raring to go

Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Cafu were among six players who underwent a light session on Thursday at Brazil's training camp for the World Cup.

Along with Edmilson, Juninho and Emerson, they worked out in the gym while the other 17 players practiced in the 5,000-seat arena built for the Brazilian squad in the lakeside resort town of Weggis in central Switzerland.

The six players later joined the rest of the group on the field for physical drills.

All Brazilian players went through a series of physical examinations earlier in the week with Brazilian doctors stating that each player would undergo specific training depending on test results.

Ronaldo, who had various injuries at the start of the year, practiced separately in the team's first training session on Wednesday. He ran by himself for 40 minutes while the other players underwent a series of physical drills.

Ronaldinho had earlier said he arrived for Brazil's pre-World Cup preparation feeling a bit tired after a long season with FC Barcelona. Along with Edmilson, he helped Barcelona win the Spanish title and the Champions League.

Cafu, a 35-year-old veteran of the past three World Cup finals, played only sparingly for AC Milan this season after recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February.

Brazil will spend two weeks in the small city of Weggis preparing to defend its World Cup title.

Brazil will play two friendlies in Switzerland - against FC Lucerne on May 30 in Basel and against New Zealand in Geneva on June 4 - before playing its opener in Germany against Croatia on June 13.

'We never panicked'

Ronaldinho says Barcelona never doubted despite taking over 75 minutes to break down ten-man Arsenal to win the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Brazilian was subdued as the Liga champions struggled to overcome a resilient Arsenal side, who led for much of the game despite losing keeper Jens Lehmann after just 18 minutes to a red card.

But the Barça number ten insists the side - who scored more goals in the tournament than any other - remained confident they could breach the Gunners' defence.

"We didn't panic," said Ronaldinho, who saw Samuel Eto'o level Sol Campbell's first-half goal with just fourteen minutes left, before Juliano Belletti snatched the trophy with nine minutes remaining.

"We knew that at one moment or another, we would score. We never lost our belief. We were playing well, and we had an extra man. There was only one problem: find that final ball and finish it off. We just had to keep possession and we knew the goal would come."

The world and European footballer of the year added the only trophy that was missing from his already overburdened mantlepiece after claiming a second successive Liga title this season and winning the 2002 World Cup with his country.

But despite having won everything in the game aged just 26, Ronaldinho insisted he remains determined to continue winning trophies.

"It's another title, and that always gives you more motivation to work and improve," he said. "I want to carry on like this. Having said that, you have to enjoy it while you can, so I'm going to relax and enjoy the moment."