Brazil Disregards Tragedy due to Defeat in FIFA World Cup

Former Brazilian soccer star Rai Souza Viera de Oliveira, known as Rai, ruled out a tragedy in case his country loses the FIFA World Cup this year.

Soccer has been and still is a passion in my country, but it does not have an excessive importance any more. If Brazil do not win the World Cup, that would not be any kind of tragedy," he said.

For his comrades and fellow countrymen, there are many aspects of life that are more important than soccer at present, he said.

Back in 1994, pressure was unprecedented, but soccer in Brazil is the pride of my country," the 48-year-old former player concluded.