Record-breaking time for evergreen Cafu

BERGISCH GLADBACH, June 25, 2006 (AFP/GNA) - Brazil's evergreen captain Cafu said on Saturday he would be very proud to break the World Cup record for appearances and games won when the five-time champions play Ghana in a second round clash in Dortmund on Tuesday. The 36-year-old fullback will make his 19th appearance for Brazil in a World Cup finals, a national record, when he leads out the team and should they prevail over the classy African outfit break the record number of victories with 16.

"To play 19 matches at the World Cup finals is a fabulous thing," said Cafu, who would be appearing in his fourth successive final were Brazil to make it to the July 9 climax.

"And 16 wins. I will be proud of this record," added Cafu, who stands to become the first player to captain a side to two titles having led them to victory over Germany in 2002.

Cafu revealed that he had been so keen to set the new marks that he had approached coach Carlos Alberto Parreira during the final group match with Japan, which he had sat out having picked up a yellow card in the 2-0 win over Australia.

"I wanted to come on," admitted Cafu, who also won the World Cup in 1994 and was then on the losing side in 1998. "During the match, I sidled up to professor Parreira, and spoke to him.

"I saw he was thinking about the substitutions. However he didn't want to send me on as he did not want to take the risk that I be booked and be suspended.

"He spoke about the record but he did not want to take any chances," added Cafu.