Brazil President Cocky, But Not That Cocky

The way it is being pitched in this story ... Brazil's president is so sure his country's team will play in the World Cup final, on July 11, that he already is planning to be there for the match.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said "I'm so optimistic that ... I'm going to the final."

Which sounds a little arrogant, except for this:

Lula would be at the final anyway because Brazil is host of the 2014 World Cup, and generally the head of state of the next host country shows up for the final of the preceding World Cup.

That would be Lula, at the end of SA2010.

So, he's not necessarily tempting fate, not risking bad karma ... he's going to be at the match anyway. He may as well say "it's because I expect us to play in the final."

But, yes, it does seem of late that a lot of coaches and players -- and now a president -- are talking up their chances of having a nice World Cup. It isn't going to work out that way.