Turks out to make Rivaldo pay

While one half of the draw at this World Cup became the subject of wild conspiracy theories over the weekend at least one man involved in this week's other semi-final appeared to be residing rather happily in never-never land.

It's just three weeks now since Brazilian striker Rivaldo took a dive late in his side's opening match against Turkey and pretended that the ball had hit him in the face rather than the leg so as to get Hakan Unsal sent off.

But as the 30-year-old reflected on the prospect of a rematch in the wake of Turkey's win over Senegal, he said he has no reason to expect any ill-will from his opponents tomorrow, and went as far as to claim that the South Americans are warmly regarded by their rivals for obtaining the win over Costa Rica in their last group game that granted Senol Gunes's side their passage to the second round.

Dream on, Rivaldo.

Unsal, as luck would have it, looks set to miss tomorrow's game with a knee injury but when the other Turk sent off in the previous meeting, Alpay Ozalan, was asked for his thoughts yesterday on the Barcelona star's behaviour he remarked that it was "needless" but that he and his team-mates would "make up for it accordingly on this occasion".

Alpay said all the Turkish players had been infuriated by Rivaldo's play-acting, which cost him a $7,000 fine but no other sanction from FIFA.

Given the ferocity with which the Turks got stuck into the now tournament favourites when they weren't bearing any grudges it sounded like an ominous warning.

And with Ronaldinho suspended and Ronaldo less than fully fit the ability of Rivaldo to continue the run of form that has brought him five goals in the tournament so far may well prove crucial to the Brazilians' hopes of making it to their third successive World Cup final.

Ronaldo and goalkeeper Marcos have handed coach Luiz Felipe Scolari a boost ahead of the game. The talented striker, joint top score at the finals on five, has confirmed that he will be fit to play after recovering from a thigh strain.

The Inter Milan ace returned to training yesterday after three days on the sidelines due to the injury he picked up during Friday's quarter-final match against England.

"I felt well in training, without any pain, I still have one more day to rest and I am certain that I will be perfectly fine for the match," said Ronaldo to the press.

Brazil team doctor Jose Luiz Runco added: "Today he touched the ball for the first time in three days and he did not feel bad, the logical thing is that tomorrow he will be physically well."

Palmeiras stopper Marcos will also be available to face Turkey. Marcos was injured during yesterday's training session, but Runco has confirmed that he does not have an injury. And the 27-year-old goalkeeper also expects to play, saying: "I would not miss the match against Turkey for anything in the world."

Marcos had limped out of the training game, supported on both sides by members of the squad's medical staff after venturing forward for a set-piece and then landed awkwardly after a jump.

If the goalkeeper does actually come through, however, then Scolari's only dilemma will be who is to replace Ronaldinho. There is a distinct possibility that Juninho will simply be brought back after having been dropped for the England game in the wake of what were considered to have been a couple of fairly shaky performances.

If the Brazilians win then Cafu stands to become the first player in history to play in three World Cup finals, something he was clearly keenly aware of yesterday as the team prepared for the game at the stadium in Saitama.

"Look at me smile," he said just a little edgily yesterday, "I'm smiling on the outside but I'm trying to contain myself on the inside. I'm trying not to think about it.

"Let's hope it happens, though," he said with a smile, before adding quickly that first the team had to beat a Turkish side that had led them by a goal last time and whose physical game had given the South Americans huge problems last time despite the eventual 2-1 result.

"Only if we beat them will I start thinking about another final," he added. "Only then will my personal situation become a reality."

The question this time will be whether the Turks, on much less familiar ground than their opponents, end up feeling the pressure of the situation a little more.

There was a sense yesterday that they remain slightly taken aback by their own success so far in the tournament even if they are convinced that they have earned their right to get this far.

"If someone had told you 10 years ago that Turkey would be playing Brazil and that Brazil would be worried about the result, what would you have said," wondered Ilhan Masiz, the scorer of his team's golden-goal winner over Senegal at the weekend.

Clearly it would have been impolite to tell him that anybody suggesting that scenario 10 days ago might have been dismissed as crazy, even if the prospect of a South Korea versus Turkey final being floated by Gunes over the past couple of days hardly seems all that bizarre now.

The Turkish coach, like Scolari, was stung by the criticism he received back home during the build-up to these finals and even up to a couple of weeks ago when questions were asked about both his team selection and tactical approach. Now only one of the two men is under any pressure with the Brazilians almost universally expected to win.

Turkey, apart from Unsal, will otherwise be at full strength although captain Hakan Sukur is still suffering from the thigh strain he has been carrying throughout the tournament.

There has been speculation that Sukur could be dropped after he squandered a string of chances against Senegal.

Ilhan Mansiz, who replaced Sukur in the second half, scored a superbly taken golden goal to win the match, boosting his chances of starting tomorrow.

While Rivaldo deludes himself, though, they may be about to show the striker just how great a motivator revenge can really be.