Brazil faces World Cup test with a year to go

“Imagina na Copa!” is a familiar phrase in Brazil these days.

“Just imagine this happening during the cup!” is what’s meant, when the traffic is choked, there is no end to the queues at the bus stops, banks and ticket counters, there’s another power outage and the mobile phone network again cannot cope.

“Imagina na Copa!“: the popular refrain has even now become a song. Almost six years after getting the nod to host football’s biggest tournament, there are only 365 days to go to kick-off for the June 12-July 13 World Cup next year. Not everyone feels happy about it.

The dress rehearsal is more a matter of hours than days away. On Saturday, the eight-nation Confederations Cup begins, with matches in six of the 12 World Cup venues — in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador.

“I am sure Brazil will shine both on and off the field... I am sure all who come will fall in love and want to return for the World Cup,” said a confident President Dilma Rousseff.

The challenge for the fans and teams will be the distances to travel in a country 25 times the size of a large European nation such as Germany, where at the 2006 World Cup the best way to get around was by train.

In Brazil it will more often than not have to be the plane. Some 4,000 kilometres separate a venue such as Porto Alegre in the south from Manaus in the Amazon region. Some 600,000 foreign visitors are expected, which will be the acid test for airports already running at full capacities.

Football’s world governing body FIFA has been keeping a keen eye on the progress of construction works in and around the stadiums — not without reason, for most of the deadlines for the Confederations Cup have not been met.

“That can’t and won’t happen at the World Cup,” FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said recently.

In particular the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo, venue for the opening game and ceremony, is under close scrutiny. Brazil has repeatedly provided assurances the stadiums would be ready on time.

FIFA’s deadline is December this year.

FIFA certainly wants to avoid the last-minute uncertainties just experienced with the legendary Maracana.

The stadium in Rio, which will stage the finals of the World Cup and Confederations Cup, should have been ready in December 2012.

However the opening had to be continually put back as a result of strikes, additional building measures and planning errors. It was late and more expensive.

Yet despite all the doomsaying, the new Maracana has turned out well, even if around the stadium green plastic awning blocks the view here and there and not every toilet waste-pipe is leak free.

The players and coaches have given it the thumbs up. Brazil Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari praised the “spectacular technical areas” including pitch and changing rooms following the stadium opening match against England on June 2. The game ended 2-2, a result which will not be enough for the five-time world champions if they want to live up to their self-declared role as tournament favourites.

Since Felipao took over as coach in November, the Selecao with top star Neymar in their ranks have yet to enjoy a win against a leading team. “Imagina na Copa!” — no, that’s something no one in Brazil can imagine happening at the World Cup.

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