Pele confident Brazil will deliver on and off field

The hosting of the 2014 World Cup is "a great opportunity" for Brazil, the country's all-time great Pele told AFP in an exclusive interview.
Pele yesterday revealed his confidence that the tournament will be a memorable one for all the right reasons while also backing Luiz Felipe Scolari's Brazil team to handle the huge pressure of being hosts.
Brazil's organisation of the World Cup has been marred by negative headlines about the struggle to get some of the 12 stadiums finished on time.
The threat of violent street demonstrations of the sort that overshadowed last year's Confederations Cup has added to the tension, but Pele believes Brazil will get it right.

"This is a great opportunity. It will be fantastic for Brazil," he said.
"I think after we had the experience of the Confederations Cup the government has been better organised for the World Cup. So I hope we will have an excellent World Cup. We deserve it.

"As a Brazilian I feel sorry because you have two or three big opportunities to showcase the country -- the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the Olympic Games (in Rio de Janeiro in 2016). I think this will be a great opportunity to show the country, to make money, to get tourism.

"And it's important that the demonstrations do not damage everything, so we are going to work hard."
Winner of the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, Pele says the one tournament that left its mark on him more than any other was the 1966 competition in England, when he was kicked off the park and Brazil bowed out at the group stage.
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At least he is not associated with Brazil's greatest failure -- their defeat to Uruguay in the deciding game in 1950, the last time the country hosted the tournament.