Noted football analyst and former English player Paul Masefield is backing Brazil to lift the coveted FIFA World Cup next year and said he would be amazed if the South American team failed to win it on home turf.
"(I am backing) Brazil - a hundred per cent. Home surface, home soil, crowd would be massively galvanised behind them. I will be absolutely amazed if Brazil did not win the World Cup next year. It would need a freak of nature (for them to lose)," Masefield, the new technical director of Mumbai-based Kooh Sports football development centre told PTI.
Brazil, who hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup last month, stunned reigning world champions Spain 3-0 in the final.
Masefield predicted Chelsea to win the English premiership title this year, following the return of former manager Jose Mourinho at its helm.
"I think they are going to win the league (EPL) this year. I think it is purely and simply down to the Mourinho factor. He has galvanised the fans, the players, every one at that football club is over the moon," he said.
He praised the Chelsea coach for getting the best out of his players and said Mourinho's recent statement that ageing mid-fielder Frank Lampard would be used sparingly, was the right one.
"What he is saying is right. You are 33-34 years old now and you can't do what you did when you were 25. I am going to use you in the right way. It is not to say that he is not going to play him every game but what he may do is play him in a slightly different role.
"That is where Mourinho can get the best out of players. Mourinho does have a knack of bringing out the best out of the players. I think he will get the best out of the team," he said.
