Paulo Coehlo is a football fan and he really enjoys football and World Cup. Like all of us, naturally!

What did you think of the match between Brazil and Croatia?
It was outstanding. So far I’ve been to the Opening Match (Germany v Costa Rica) and Brazil’s match. I’m going to see all of Brazil’s first-round games. As for the later stages, let’s see what happens. The match could not have been better. Brazil are their own worst enemies, in that they suffer from an excess of self-confidence. We arrived as the absolute favourites and were drawn against Croatia, an excellent team. The 1-0 result was a victory, but it’s going to make us think again about a lot of things. It’s a bad idea to underestimate any opponent, whoever they are.

Whose performance stood out for you on the day?
Roberto Carlos. He did everything asked of him. As did Kaka, of course.

What about Ronaldo?
I think the coach was right to bring Ronaldo off. He did, and has done, a lot for Brazil. The pressure on him is tremendous. I’d like to see him treated with a little more tolerance. Love, not criticism, is what will make him play better. And he knows that he is wanted. That motivates him a great deal. I was happy when Parreira announced that Ronaldo was going to start the next match.

What was the atmosphere in the stadium like?
One thing that surprised me was the attitude of the Croatian fans. They supported their team until the end, and that was nice to see. It was also lovely to watch the fans leave the stadium: Croatian and Brazilian shirts mingling together in an atmosphere of friendship. The match was a serious competition, but beyond it there was no animosity. It was a case of football bringing the world together. The winners were not better than the losers, and the losers bore no grudge.

Can we get you to risk a prediction on the result of Brazil’s next match, against Australia?
I’d say 2-0 to Brazil. It would be risky to say any more than that. Against Japan, I think it will be a little easier, despite Zico’s best efforts.

Did you see Japan play Australia?
Yes, and although I was supporting Japan, because of Zico, it was great to see the way Australia turned the match around.

Can you see Brazil going all the way again and winning a sixth title?
As a Brazilian, I hope we will, but I know that it’s not going to be easy. In any case, I’ve already got my tickets for the Final.

Who would you like to see in the Final?
I’d like to see a repeat of the 2002 final, Brazil against Germany. There’s one thing about football that I’ve noticed: when the home team are good, they always reach the Final. It happened in France (1998), Argentina (1978) and Italy (1938).

Have you been many of the other sides at the tournament, and if so, who have you been impressed with?
I’ve been following all of the games. I saw Germany play in the Opening Match, which I enjoyed a lot. They’re a team whose reputation has suffered, but they faced the same sort of criticism when they started the last World Cup, and they ended up getting to the Final. Argentina look strong and I think the Czech Republic also played some great football. I’ve watched the matches on the screen here in the street (FAN FEST Berlin, near the Brandenburg Gate). That has been a magical experience. It doesn’t compare with watching a live match, but it’s still quite impressive. Watching the games with people from all over the world, you come to see that football is a festival in which people express their love for their countries.

This is your first FIFA World Cup. Do you think you will go to any more?
God willing, yes. One thing that has surprised me is the support for Brazil from people from all over the world. I was here in Berlin for three days waiting for the match and I could see that many people were supporting our side even though they weren’t Brazilians. Many people here whose teams haven’t qualified are backing the Seleção.

Source: WCoffsite