Deco tips Brazil for World Cup success

Brazilian-born former Portuguese international Deco is tipping his home country rather than his adopted one to triumph at this year’s World Cup.

Born in São Paulo, Deco moved to Portugal at the age of 19 in 1997 and made his name at Porto, winning the Uefa Cup and then the Champions League under Jose Mourinho. By that time he had qualified for Portuguese citizenship and won the first of his 75 caps for the national team. 

Deco played under Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari for five years with Portugal and one season with Chelsea and believes that home advantage and the coach’s experience will prove decisive. 

“Although the attack is not exceptional, Brazil have a very strong defence and good midfield. They have home advantage and they are favourites because of that,” he said in an interview with Reuters.

“Of course the pressure on them is high. They have the precedent of 1950 when they lost to Uruguay but that is a long time ago, a different moment.” 

“Scolari is the best coach to have. He knows all about pressure of being coach of Brazil. He knows the mentality of his players, and he won the World Cup in 2002 for Brazil when no-one expected it,” completed the retired 36-year-old.