Brazil 2014: "No country has been so far behind since I have been at FIFA" (Joseph Blatter, FIFA)

"Brazil has just found out what it means (to organise a World Cup), and has started work much too late. No country has been so far behind in preparations since I have been at FIFA even though it is the only host nation which has had so much time - seven years - in which to prepare," said Joseph Blatter, President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), on the 04/01/2014.

"I am an optimist not a pessimist. So I am not worried," said Joseph Blatter, in an interview with Swiss newspaper 24 Heures, about the social climate in Brazil, a source of events during the Confederations Cup, held from the 15 to the 30/06/2013. "But we do know there will be again manifestations, protests. Those during the Confederations Cup - in this same country - were generated out of the social networks. There was no specific goal but during the World Cup the protests will perhaps be more concrete, more organised."

"I do not believe that Brazilians will attack the football directly. For them, it's a religion," said the FIFA President.

On the 30/10/2007, FIFA officially awarded the…