World Cup could be the best yet!

Brazil, I hope, can continue the process of making up for a young boy’s disappointment by capturing their sixth World Cup.

I was only 11 years old when my favourite player, Pele, was kicked out of the 1966 tournament by a cynical Portugal.

It is a while ago now, but the memories of that heartbreak, set against the terrific excitement I felt watching my first World Cup, remain fresh to this day.

Pele bounced back four years later to help Brazil win in Mexico as part of what is acknowledged as one of the greatest team performances of all time.

I relished that, and would love to see them repeat the feat in their own backyard. Their mix of attacking flair and defensive solidity must give them a chance, with the latter arguably the more important factor.

The Scotland coach Gordon Strachan said recently this World Cup will bring together the best group of players he can remember. I have to agree.

Lionel Messi teaming up with Sergio Aguero for Argentina, for example, is a mouth-watering prospect. Likewise of seeing the explosive talents of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani together in Uruguay’s frontline.

And while Cristiano Ronaldo might not have a Portuguese partner approaching his talent, his devastating display against Sweden in the second leg of the play-offs showed just how he good he can be.

Throw in others such as Diego Costa with Spain and it is clear that defences could be in for a tough time.

It is here that Brazil are well placed, with Thiago Silva and David Luiz an excellent partnership in the middle, and Marcelo and Dani Alves completing a great back four to sit in front of the experienced figure of keeper Julio Cesar.

Away from the hosts, there are plenty of others with obvious chances.

Argentina will have the benefits of playing the games near to home, but without the level of pressure that Brazil will be under. The European challenge is headed by World Cup holders and Euro 2012 winners, Spain.

Many have argued theirs is a team in decline but they are boosted by the addition of Diego Costa and certainly won’t mind the heat.

Germany a country renowned for excelling in tournament conditions and Holland are others to consider as possible winners.

England, so strong in 1966 with players like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Bobby Charlton in their side, are more a work in progress.

From a personal point of view, I hope we see some great football and, I would hope, a crackdown from officialdom on the cheating that detracts from the spectacle.

This is the pinnacle of the world game and a zero tolerance approach to simulation would ensure the message filters down through all levels.

When I was Chief Executive of the SFA, I argued strongly that what is needed at these tournaments is retrospective punishment of offenders.

The exhaustive coverage of games and the breaks between matches make it possible to easily identify the guilty parties, and suspend them for subsequent fixtures. And at this level, bans have a huge impact.

You just need to look at the faces of players who realise they are going to miss the showpiece matches on picking up a booking to know the truth of that.

If coaches thought diving had the potential to rob them of star players, they would hammer home the message it was unacceptable. The problem would soon clear up.