Brazil legend Bebeto believes the 2013 Confederations Cup will be the ‘calling card’ for the nation ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
The 48-year-old, who was capped 75 times and scored 39 goals, was speaking in his capacity as a board member of the local organising committee.
Bebeto helped Brazil claim the Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia in 1997, with a thumping 6-0 win over Australia, adding that title to his World Cup and Copa America triumphs with the national side.
He hopes next year’s Confederations Cup can be the catalyst for World Cup glory for Brazil.
“The success of the Confederations Cup will be our calling card ahead of the great World Cup we’ll host the following year,” the former Deportivo and Flamengo star told FIFA.com.
“I’ve already won one edition of the Confederations Cup and so I know that it’s an excellent opportunity for players to stake their claims. That’s also true for Brazil as the host nation.
“The Confederations Cup will be the start of everything, for all the success that will lie ahead.
“Here we’ve had another very productive board meeting, where once again I’ve learned a lot by seeing how work is progressing. It’s a real pleasure to see how preparations are coming along.
“That said, we were very sorry to be without FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke (who is recovering in hospital after suffering from a kidney infection), and we all hope he’ll be back to work soon.”
The 2013 tournament kicks off on June 15.
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