BEST WORLD CUP EVER

The head of the Brazilian organisation that is overseeing the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup has said that he is extremely confident that the World Cup will be a major success. He has also said that every single operation that is being undertaken right now is under the control. The Brazilian government has been criticised for not preparing for the World Cup at a much earlier stage considering that they knew that they would be hosting the World Cup almost a decade ago. Yet, many infrastructure projects are yet to be undertaken by the government. However, the head of the Brazilian organisation that oversees the development of the perception has said that they are taking every step possible in order to make the World Cup successful.

He has also assured the fans that the infrastructure will be ready within the start of the confederations cup next summer. He has said that there has been intense scrutiny on the infrastructure work that is being carried out in the country 24 hours a day. It is expected that the 2014 FIFA World Cup will cost Brazil approximately $ 14 billion in new infrastructure. This infrastructure is expected to comprise stadiums, airports, and various other public transport options.

“I am very optimistic, everything is under control and I am sure that we will organize a fantastic World Cup. We are monitoring the (infrastructure) works 24 hours a day and I can assure you that the stadiums will be ready on time. Currently, we have other priorities. We continue to monitor work on the stadiums, but the issue is no longer whether or not they will be completed as scheduled,” said Ricardo Trade, who is the executive director of the committee overseeing the development of nations throughout the country.

YOUTH IS THE ANSWER

Brazilian national team coach Mano Menezes has said that his decision to select a number of young players for the match against Denmark was taken in such a way as to perform well at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.

Brazil will be hoping to perform well at this World Cup given that it will be the first time it will be held at home for almost 5 decades. The Brazilian national team has failed to inspire in the last couple of World Cups. Former manager Dunga paid the price for overseeing a poor 2010 FIFA World Cup with his job.

Mano Menezes, though, will have a number of talented players available for selection at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but he is unlikely to have the same experience and depth in squad that Dunga had when he was the manager of the national team. Yet, Mano Menezes has not stopped at the attempts to look at the possibility of using a number of young players from now till the start of the World Cup so as to prepare them for the major competition. Brazil will be facing Denmark on Saturday, but Mano Menezes has named a very young squad for the match.

“It is a young team, younger than Denmark. The goal is the Olympic team. We are renovating the team and need young players for 2014. The team in the U.S will be stronger. And for the last two games I have more time to train with the players,” said Mano Menezes ahead of the match.

The national team will be having matches against the United States of America, Mexico and Argentina in friendlies before the second week of June. Menezes has said that he wants to give as much as experience to the younger players like Rafael da Silva.

PARK LOOKS LIKE MOVING ON

It’s been a disappointing season for Manchester United’s Korean star Park Ji Sung and it seems ever more possible that it could be his last at Old Trafford. Park signed an extension last summer which ties him to United until the end of next season.

With just a year to go and Park seemingly behind Young, Nani and Valencia in the pecking order for the Champions’ wing positions it seems likely that Sir Alex Ferguson will look to cash in on Park rather than seeing him leave for free in 2013.

Monday’s derby against City was Park’s first league start for three months and his failure to impress in the sort of game he has usually served United so well over the years is not a good sign for Park.

It is expected that whether United win the league or not Ferguson is keen to strengthen his aging squad in an attempt to return United to the top of European game and the likes of Park will probably be one of the first to make way for younger fresh blood.

Juventus are expected to be one of the sides interested in Park and a move to Italy’s slower top division would perhaps suit an aging Park. Juve are also being linked with a move for Park’s United team mate and captain, Nemanja Vidic but that talk has been rubbished by the Serbian’s agent Silviano Martina.

Park’s United career has taken in three Champions League Final and seen him win an impressive collection of medals. His class is undoubted and he can surely still give one of Europe’s top clubs a few years service, not to mention the commercial benefit that he will bring any club in the Korean market. At 31 it can be expected that Park will have a few years left in him and the gamble could be a great move for a club such as Juventus.

BRAZIL ALLOW ALCOHOL

FIFA has welcomed the decision by Brazil to allow sale of alcohol in its stadiums. Brazil and FIFA were locked in a battle over the sale of alcohol outside the stadiums.

It is currently banned in Brazil due to the fact that it causes a lot of problems. However, since the army are going to be deployed when it comes to the protection at the 2014 World Cup, Brazil have decided to go ahead with the sale of alcohol. FIFA were extremely insistent on making alcohol available outside the stadiums because one of the major sponsors for FIFA is an brewery.

Budweiser, who currently sponsor the English FA Cup, also sponsor the world football governing body – FIFA. In order to please FIFA, the Brazilian government has retracted on its insistence to not allow alcohol outside the stadium in order to prevent violence by passing a law in the Parliament recently.

FIFA has expressed its joy at being able to reach an agreement with the hosts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. A lot of discontent has been generated between FIFA and Brazil over the upcoming World Cup, but slowly and surely, they seem to be disappearing. The sale of alcohol is one such example.

FIFA had gone to extreme lengths in order to stress the importance of allowing alcohol sales outside the stadiums. It even threatened Brazil by saying that the World Cup could be shifted to another location and a huge penalty could be imposed on Brazil.

Prior to giving a country the status of hosting the World Cup, FIFA always imposes certain criteria. One of the most important among them is the fact that the countries should be allocating one percentage of the total tickets to disabled people, while more than 300,000 tickets should be sold at lower prices.

VALCKE APOLOGEISES TO BRAZIL

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has come out with an apology after making controversial comments about the preparations Brazil have been making for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Brazil have been unanimously chosen as the destination for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This is the second time in a row a non-European nation has been selected for hosting the most prestigious tournament in the world.

As a result, FIFA are under pressure in order to deliver the best tournament possible. They were earlier hampered by the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which concerned them heavily due to the lack of preparation up until the last moment.

This is the same case with Brazil as well, as no major step has been taken towards the development of public infrastructure. Even though stadiums are extremely crucial for a good World Cup, FIFA recognises the importance of having the best infrastructure for public to move around.

The transport infrastructure in Germany was one of the reasons for the 2006 FIFA World Cup to be held as the model for future World Cups. Brazil, though, said that they have been pumping billions into the development of public infrastructure and that they would not welcome Jerome Valcke into their country any more following his questionable comments.

“There is certainly an air of concern at FIFA and as the person who is ultimately responsible for delivering the World Cup I am under quite some pressure. The World Cup is the key to our entire system,” FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke thus offered his apology after drawing out intense criticism from Brazil and the other South American countries.

Brazil are yet to respond to the apology. Brazilian football Federation President Ricardo Teixeira severely condemned the comments made by Jerome Valcke earlier in the week.