SPAIN'S sport minister Jaime Lissavetzky believes Portugal's politicians could be doing more for their joint World Cup bid, but remains confident of landing football's showpiece event.
The two countries have launched a joint Iberian bid to host the tournament in 2018 or 2022 and will find out if they are successful on December 2.
They face stiff competition from England, Russia, Australia, Japan and the United States for the 2018 tournament as well as Belgium and the Netherlands who have also put forward a joint bid, and Lissavetzky feels his Portuguese counterparts are not doing enough to boost their chances.
"I don't see Portugal overly excited," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"It seems that those in football are more interested than the politicians.
"But I see more chance of it happening than Madrid hosting the Olympics in 2016.
"We have footballers who are selling it and (FIFA president Sepp) Blatter says that in 2018 it will be Europe's turn."
Lissavetzky also appeared to flout the rules preventing countries from criticising rival bids by snubbing Russia's chances, saying: "FIFA are not interested in a cold World Cup."
Lissavetzky's fears will not have been eased by the news that Portugal have ruled out investing in their stadia ahead of the bid.
Secretary of state for sport Laurentino Dias insists the government to not have money to spend on upgrading the various grounds where they are planning on staging the matches.
"From the beginning we have said we were not prepared to make new investments," he said.
"The Portuguese Football Federation knows that the government is not responsible for guaranteeing any type of work or investment needed in stadiums such as Brag, Algarve or any other.
"The stadiums have the necessary capacity and will give pride to Portugal's participation."
They face stiff competition from England, Russia, Australia, Japan and the United States for the 2018 tournament as well as Belgium and the Netherlands who have also put forward a joint bid, and Lissavetzky feels his Portuguese counterparts are not doing enough to boost their chances.
"I don't see Portugal overly excited," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"It seems that those in football are more interested than the politicians.
"But I see more chance of it happening than Madrid hosting the Olympics in 2016.
"We have footballers who are selling it and (FIFA president Sepp) Blatter says that in 2018 it will be Europe's turn."
Lissavetzky also appeared to flout the rules preventing countries from criticising rival bids by snubbing Russia's chances, saying: "FIFA are not interested in a cold World Cup."
Lissavetzky's fears will not have been eased by the news that Portugal have ruled out investing in their stadia ahead of the bid.
Secretary of state for sport Laurentino Dias insists the government to not have money to spend on upgrading the various grounds where they are planning on staging the matches.
"From the beginning we have said we were not prepared to make new investments," he said.
"The Portuguese Football Federation knows that the government is not responsible for guaranteeing any type of work or investment needed in stadiums such as Brag, Algarve or any other.
"The stadiums have the necessary capacity and will give pride to Portugal's participation."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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