Romario: Brazil at risk of not progressing

In a little over two years Brazil will host the football extravaganza but Romario - now a politician with Brazil's Socialist Party - believes it has 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 its 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".