1.
GV AND SV EXT - HOSPITAL
0.06

2.
SV INT TOSTAO IN BED -- FRIEND ATTENDS
0.16

3.
CU TOSTAO READING FAN MAIL
0.24

4.
CU LETTER ZOOM TO TOSTAO OPENING AND READING ANOTHER
0.40

5.
CU READING
0.44

6.
CU PIN-UP ON WALL, ZOOM OUT TO SCU TOSTAO EATING
0.56

7.
CU RECORD PLAYER, ZOOM OUT TO MIRROR SHOT OF TOSTAO, AND PAN TO TOSTAO IN BED
1.15



Initials WW/VS/JF/PS


SPORT: SOCCER

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BRAZILIAN SOCCER STAR TOSTAO IS IN THE METHODIST HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, FOR AN OPERATION ON THE DISLOCATED RETINA OF HIS LEFT EYE, AND THERE ARE FEARS THAT AS A RESULT HE MAY BE DROPPED AS UNFIT FROM BRAZIL'S TEAM IN THE WORLD CUP.

SINCE BEING IN HOSPITAL, TOSTAO HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF LETTERS FROM WELLWISHERS.

TOSTAO IS, WITH WORLD-FAMOUS PELE, ONE OF THE KEY FIGURE IN THE BRAZILIAN FORWARD LINE. HE AND PELE PLAY A MAJOR MIDFIELD ROLE AND PROVIDE A PERFECT BALANCE WITH EDU AND JAIRZINHO ON THE WINGS. IF TOSTAO WERE DROPPED FROM THE TEAM, IT WOULD CLEARLY UNBALANCE THE BRAZILIAN ATTACK.

THE FINAL BRAZILIAN PLANS FOR THE WORLD CUP WILL HINGE STRONGLY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF TOSTAO, WHO IS SCHEDULED TO JOIN THE REST OF THE TEAM IN BOGOTA, WHICH HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING AT THE SAME ALTITUDE AS MEXICO CITY.

BRAZIL, FORCED TO QUALIFY FOR THE 1970 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS, SMASHED THE OPPOSITION IN THEIR GROUP XI TO WIN ALL SIX GAMES WITH A FINAL AGGREGATE OF 23 GOALS TO TWO FOR MAXIMUM 12 POINTS. TOSTAO SCORED 10 OF THE GOALS, TO PELE'S FIVE. THEIR OPPONENTS WERE PARAGUAY, COLOMBIA, AND VENEZUELA.

TOSTAO HAS CLEARLY EMERGED AS THE MAJOR STRIKER OF THE BRAZILIAN FORWARD LINE, AND WITHOUT HIM BRAZIL MUST DROP FROM THEIR POSITION AS JOINT FAVOURITES, WITH ENGLAND, FOR THE WORLD CUP.