I fear off-pitch problems will sully World Cup Brazil

“It would be a terrible shame to see events off the pitch sully the reputation of this magnificent footballing nation.”

All too often when a major sporting event arrives, we are warned about the potential for a lot of trouble.

Before the 2010 World Cup, it was all about the high crime rate in South Africa.

Ahead of the Olympics in Beijing, it was about Chinese human rights abuses and the likely strong-arm tactics of the police and the Army.

Prior to the Winter Olympics in Sochi this year, we were told the Russian government’s hard-line stance on homosexuality could have consequences for visiting athletes and fans.

Now we’re preparing for Brazil 2014 and once again there are fears that things could go wrong.

This time, a volatile atmosphere in the country’s big cities is threatening to bubble over into protests, and possibly violence.

In years gone by, the things we have been told to be wary of at major events have, in the main, failed to come to pass. But this time I fear things could be different.

I arrived in Brazil for the World Cup Finals yesterday and my first impression is that it’s a beautiful country. But just beneath the surface, there are huge social tensions, and I think we have to hope and pray they don’t snap.

I don’t think visiting fans have much to worry about as long as they are sensible. I, for one, won’t be going anywhere beyond the busy central areas of cities, where I expect a carnival atmosphere.

But I think a degree of trouble in the poorer areas is inevitable especially if Brazil, by some freak run of poor form, fail to do well in the tournament.

In fact, as daft as it perhaps sounds, I think the host country’s fortunes on the field could be the difference between a World Cup that passes peacefully and one that explodes.

As long as Brazil are playing well and winning games, a lot of the anger that exists over here about the amount of money that has been spent on the tournament will be kept in check.

Under those circumstances, the festival-of-football vibe ought to prevail in a country that, in my opinion, is the true home of the sport. And in that respect, fortunately, I can’t see past Brazil when it comes to picking a winner.

The only team I can see coming close to mounting a realistic challenge is Argentina, but I still think the hosts will have too much. For me, this is going to be Neymar’s tournament, not Lionel Messi’s.

As for England, I think they’re going to have to keep things very tight in their first game if they want to progress. Lose to Italy and it’s more or less tournament over. I think that will be clear enough to Roy Hodgson.

But even if England do make it through the group stages, I can’t see them getting any further than the quarter-finals. Even getting that far would be one hell of an achievement.

By contrast, a similar showing from the host nation would be a disaster for them and possibly for the tournament.

I’m keeping everything crossed it doesn’t turn out like that because, like everyone else, I’ve waited my entire life to see a World Cup in Brazil.

Having done so and being lucky enough to be here in person it would be a terrible shame to see events off the pitch sully the reputation of this magnificent footballing nation.