Brazil risk first round exit in 2014, says Romario
FOOTBALL: RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 23 (AFP) - Former World Cup winner
Romario believes the current Brazil team risk failing to get past the
first round of the 2014 World Cup if their form does not improve.
In a little over two years Brazil will host the football extravaganza
for the first time but Romario - now a politician with Brazil's
Socialist Party (PSB) - believes they have little chance of
realistically aiming for a sixth triumph.
"If Brazil keep on playing the football they're playing right now,
they risk not getting past the first round," Romario was quoted as
saying in Friday's edition of O Globo.
Brazil is currently in a race against time, and under pressure from
football's world governing body FIFA, to have stadia and infrastructure
ready in time for the tournament.
Romario, a controversial figure on and off the park when he played as
a striker for Brazil and a number of top clubs in Europe and South
America, has been critical of both the World Cup organisers and of FIFA.
"FIFA has been trying to override our sovereignty, they want to tell
us how to run the country. There are still deputies who think as I do,"
added Romario.
At the beginning of November, FIFA warned Brazil to speed up their
preparations to host the World Cup and reluctantly accepted to issue
half-price tickets for students and those over 60 years of age.
Brazil's Sports Minister, Aldo Rebelo, vowed earlier this month that
the 12 stadiums designated to host matches at the tournament would be
ready "ahead of schedule".
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