FIFA president Joseph Blatter has praised Brazil for hosting an “excellent” World Cup.
Following mass protests at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, it had been feared that this year’s mega event could be ruined by political objection. But Blatter said he always believed in Brazil’s ability to host the tournament, and he was not disappointed.
Blatter, 78, described this year’s edition as “the best World Cup” in which he has been involved, in an interview shown at the Soccerex Global Convention.
“This was, in my opinion, the best World Cup that I have seen in terms of football quality and atmosphere created in all the cities, in all the stadiums,” Blatter said.
Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup were dominated by negative headlines concerning stadium building projects behind schedule and the threat of further protests.
Blatter added: “There was a doubt about a repetition of social agitation, but I believed that when the World Cup began, the Brazilian nation would be totally involved in the sport. And this is what happened.”
The FIFA president also praised the coaches of the participating countries for the open, attacking football in the majority of the matches.
“We have to give compliments to the coaches because they played to win. In past World Cups they just didn’t want to lose,” he said.
