THE GUARDIAN
Pele has offered some odd predictions ahead of World Cups in the past. Photograph: Elizabeth Dalziel/APPelé may be the greatest player in history but despite being paid to travel the world talking about football, what he actually says about it is hugely unreliable. 'When Pelé's quiet, he's a poet,' says Romario. 'But he just talks shit.' Here are the highlights of his past 20 years
1990
"Italy is the favourite"
Italy lose to Argentina in the semi-finals and West Germany win it
1994
"For me Colombia is the best team. It doesn't mean they are going to win it but they will be one of the four semi-finalists. Brazil has very good players but as a team they are not so compact. Germany work well together"
Colombia are eliminated and defender/own-goal scorer Andrés Escobar is shot dead, Germany go out in the quarter-finals. Brazil win it
1998
"Spain is the big favourite, and I always believe Brazil will be in the final. France have good players who play well as a team and, of course, they are at home. They have a great chance to be in the final. England have a good manager, a good style and a very strong team"
Spain crash out in the group stages and France beat Brazil in the final
2002
"Brazil have not been playing well. They haven't been playing as a team. There are a whole series of teams who are fighting to be at the top level – Argentina, France, Italy and Portugal – but none of these stands out. Below the top four there is a second level of teams that could easily win it such as Germany, England and Spain"
Argentina, France and Portugal are all eliminated in the group stages, while Italy lose in the second round to South Korea and Brazil win it
2006
"The last four? Brazil, Argentina, England, France"
England, Argentina and Brazil all lose in the quarter-finals as Italy beat France in the final
…and famously
"An African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000"
An African country has still yet to get past the quarter-finals.
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