Chastened Ronaldo forecasting success

Brazil legend predicts host squad will win, despite all the problems

Embarrassed about his country's inability to complete the promised infrastructure ahead of next month's World Cup, Brazil great Ronaldo believes the host will get it right on the pitch and win the tournament for a record sixth time.

Brazil is staging the World Cup in June and July for the first time since 1950 and is the favorite to lift the trophy at Maracana stadium on July 13.

The host has struggled to build stadiums on time and many of the promised infrastructure projects such as airports, bus lanes and subway lines have been either canceled or scaled down.

Ronaldo, who as a member of the local organizing committee is one of the most visible backers of soccer's world governing body FIFA and the Brazilian government, said the country has always faced problems of "corruption, embezzlement, overcharging" and he lamented the late delivery of stadiums, three of which are still not ready.

"In 2007 when they decided the World Cup would be in Brazil, President Lula signed everything and agreed to everything and then they get here and there's this bureaucracy, total confusion and lateness," Ronaldo said in an interview on Friday at his office in Sao Paulo.

"It's a shame ... and I am embarrassed. This is my country and I love it and we shouldn't be transmitting this image abroad.

"But we mustn't forget that Brazil wasn't perfect before the World Cup. It was the same or worse."

The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker is betting on Brazil to win the competition, with Germany his second choice, followed closely by Argentina and Spain.

Brazil is on a rich run of form and has won 13 of its past 14 encounters, including five victories en route to the Confederations Cup last year.

Pressure situation

But not team has ever won the World Cup a year after lifting the Confederations Cup and there is also the matter of pressure. Local fans are desperate for a home win and yet only six players on Luiz Felipe Scolari's 23-man squad have been to a World Cup before.

Ronaldo, 37, said the players are experienced enough for the big occasion and will be well prepared by Scolari - the man who led Brazil to its last title triumph in 2002, with the help of two goals from Ronaldo in the final.

The first match against Croatia on June 12 could set the tone for the tournament, he said.

"The first game in the World Cup, in Brazil, the first match for many players, it is going to be very important and it could determine the team's future," he said.

"We see players that are 20 years old who've played with big clubs or with the national team for a year or two, so I don't think the lack of experience will determine the final result.

"It could be important at some moments of the match but I don't think it will determine the result."

Ronaldo also dismissed concerns that South American teams will cope better with the tropical climes and noted that while humidity could be high in coastal and jungle cities, temperatures in some venues could drop to almost freezing in the southern hemisphere's winter.

"In Europe they play in higher temperatures than here," Ronaldo said. "The games that could be controversial, for example 1 pm kickoffs in Manaus, have been moved.

"I was in Manaus in the summer and at game time it could get to 35 degrees; in the winter it's 28, 29. That's a nice temperature to play in.

"In Brazil it's another controversy that makes no sense. No one is worried about the cold in Porto Alegre. Why does no one speak about that?"

Ronaldo went to four World Cups and took home a winners medal in 1994 and 2002. While he holds the record for most goals scored in World Cup competition, German Miroslav Klose could surpass him if he gets two goals this year.

Ronaldo joked he would spend only a little time willing Klose to fall short of his 15-goal tally, then acknowledged that if the big Lazio forward does equal or break his record, he will deserve all the plaudits that come his way.

(China Daily 05/25/2014 page12)