FIFA's Jérôme Valcke focuses on "rising anticipation" ahead of Brazil 2014

By Andrew Warshaw

June 12 – Exactly two years before the start of the Brazil 2014 World Cup, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke, back in his role as the tournament’s chief trouble-shooter, has spoken of the “rising anticipation” through South America.

The FIFA number two, who has repaired his once-fractured relationship with the Brazilian authorities, hinted it was time to concentrate on the actual qualifiers rather than whether preparations were on track.

“More than 950 goals have been scored in the 304 qualifiers so far, that’s an average of just over three per game,” said Valcke ahead of his latest inspection visit to Brazil, staging its first World Cup for over 50 years.

“It’s great to talk about what’s happening on the pitch, not just the preparations in the host country.

“It’s great to see all the action and excitement the FIFA World Cup brings to the fans and the teams in every corner of the world.”

Valcke identified Tahiti’s (pictured below) qualification for next year’s Confederations Cup as one of the surprise developments.

“Previously it had only been New Zealand and Australia…

“This highlights the remarkable progress being made by the so-called ‘smaller nations’.”

Chile, he told fifa.com, had put down an early marker in the South American qualifying campaign for the World Cup.

“It’s a great appetiser and advertisement for what is to come in 2014,” Valcke said.

“With Brazil not having to play the qualifiers, it is a good chance for another South American team to grab a place at the FIFA World Cup.

“You can really feel already the rising anticipation especially among the South American teams who seem almost desperate to take part in the first FIFA World Cup on their own continent for 34 years.”

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