Fifa president Sepp Blatter critical of Brazil's WorldCup preparations

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has accused Brazil of
being badly prepared with five months to go before
it hosts this year's World Cup.
Six of the host nation's 12 stadiums have failed to
meet Fifa's 31 December completion deadline.
Three workers have been killed in recent accidents
at stadiums in Sao Paulo and Manaus.
"No country has been so far behind in preparations
since I have been at Fifa," Blatter told a Swiss
newspaper.
“
It is the only host nation which has had so
much time - seven years - in which to
prepare. Brazil has started work much too late
”
Sepp Blatter
Fifa president
The 77-year-old has worked for Fifa since 1975,
becoming president in 1998.
He added: "It is the only host nation which has had
so much time - seven years - in which to prepare."
The tournament opens on 12 June when the host
nation face Croatia in Sao Paulo's Arena
Corinthians, where two workers died when a crane
collapsed on to part of the roof on 27 November.
That accident delayed the stadium's completion
date by several months, and it is not expected to be
ready until mid-April.
Construction problems and public protests about
the financial costs of hosting the World Cup have
beset Brazil's preparations for the tournament.
Brazil - which lasted hosted the World Cup in 1950 -
was awarded this year's finals in 2007.
But when asked if the country had understood the
scale of the work required, Blatter replied: "No.
Brazil has just found out what it means and has
started work much too late."