Brazil 2014 World Cup webchat

Brazil are going into the World Cup with a squad of mostly young and very promising players. Spain (and to an extent Germany and Argentina) are arriving with squads of experienced players at about the peak of their ability. Does the fact that Brazil aren’t going there with the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Robinho et al, in their swansongs, represent cultural problems with Brazilian football? it seems many of their ‘stars’ simply lack the longevity of Europeans. I for one, doubt the current Brazil side has the ability, or perhaps experience to win the thing.

The Brazilian government would tell you it will help seal the country’s status as one of the world’s economic superpowers and, along with the Rio 2016 Olympics, show the world that it is about much more than samba and beaches. In short, it will burnish Brazil’s image as one of the most important and influential countries on earth and show its best side to the world.

And, as with any major event, there is the economic case that it helps accelerate investment in infrastructure – roads, airports, hotels and so on. Whether or not investing billions in delivering a sporting event is really the best way to go about this is an argument that will rage long beyond next year’s World Cup.

Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes said this week that Fifa didn’t care about legacy, while the IOC did – an interesting distinction I thought from someone who has to deal intimately with both.