Pele hoping team can avenge defeat

BRAZIL avenging their traumatic 1950 World Cup final defeat by beating Uruguay in the final next month would be the ideal result, according to Brazilian legend Pele.

The 73-year-old three-time World Cup winner, addressing journalists in Sao Paulo, said in answer to a question of whether he would like a Brazil v Argentina final on July 13: "I would prefer to have a Brazil v Uruguay final in order that we could avenge our defeat in 1950."

The Uruguayans stunned the 200000 spectators at the Maracana into silence back in 1950 when a late goal earned them a 2-1 win and that was enough on the old system for them to be crowned world champions and not Brazil, who went into the match just requiring a draw.

Pele, the record goalscorer for Brazil, said the importance of what soccer had done for Brazil's worldwide reputation could not be underestimated. – AFP