Carlos Alberto Parreira Doesn't Trust His Team at the World Cup

With the FIFA World Cup coming up soon, everybody is expecting encouraging statements from the teams' coaches. Nevertheless, the big contenders for the final victory are beginning to point out the fact that their teams are not the main favorites. It started out with Germany, whose former star Lothar Matthaus praised England to be the big favorites.

Instead, Sven Goran Eriksson still believes that, without Owen and Rooney fully fit, England cannot think of the title for now. Anyway, all of us are sure of one thing: that the biggest favorite of the World Cup is Brazil. They have always been the favorites, and always will be. Still, to make sure that people won't judge him too hard in case a misfortune happens - although that's pretty hard to believe - Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira thinks differently.

"I think that we are far from being the favorites. We know our possibilities and we know that there are other teams very much prepared for this tournament. From all of them, I think the most clear favorite is Germany", stated the Brazilian. Certainly not watching the latest preparation games before the World Cup - when Germany was on the verge of losing to Japan, finally squeezing a 2-2 draw - Parreira has yet another fear.

"I can't say that I agree with everyone's opinion that Italy is not a favorite. To me, their current situation seems a lot like that one in 1982. I certainly don't want to meet them in the early knock-out stages", added Ronaldinho's coach. Yeah, well… let's take under consideration Ukraine too. Or, better, Ghana. Australia, Poland or even Togo for that matter.

All I can say is that we'll all expect Brazil to start the World Cup show in their Group F, against "tough" competitors like Japan, Australia and Croatia. We'll take it from there.