Notebook: Successful author is soccer fan
Paulo Coelho is an author -- a very successful one. He also is Brazilian, and that makes him a soccer fan, too.
"Brazilians are born with a love for two things, music and football," said Coelho, author of the best seller "The Alchemist." "I should say straight away that, for me, life and football are two very different matters. Generally I'm fairly tolerant, but football and the Brazilian team bring out my prejudiced side."
That "side" of him started in earnest about 48 years ago.
"When I was 10 years old, one of my biggest dreams came true: Brazil won the 1958 World Cup," Coelho told FIFAworldcup.com. "There was no TV, so we followed the games on the radio and had to imagine what was happening in Sweden.
"There was a carnival atmosphere in Brazil, which for a child was fantastic."
Coelho has yet to attend a World Cup match, but said he would get to see some in Germany this year.
"I'm making up for it this year by going to the opening match, and all the Brazil games," Coelho said. "I hope we get to the final."
Coelho got his start in Brazil in the 1970s by founding an alternative magazine and writing music lyrics. Considered subversive by Brazil's military government at the time, he briefly went to jail. From there, he says, he was snatched by paramilitaries and tortured.
In 1987, he followed a pilgrimage route between France and Spain, a life-changing experience that inspired his first book, "The Pilgrimage: Diary of Magus." A year later came "The Alchemist," an inspirational tale about a shepherd boy. Other best sellers, including "Veronika Decides to Die" and "Eleven Minutes," followed.
His support of Brazil hasn't inspired him enough to guess who will lift the trophy on July 9 in Berlin, though.
"I'm happy to leave predictions to the prophets," Coelho said.
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NO SURPRISE: A FIFA poll to find out who the best young player at any World Cup since 1958 turned up with a not-so-surprising winner: Pele.
"O Rei" (The King), who was on the Brazil teams that won World Cups in 1958, '62 and '70, got 61 percent of the vote.
Pele was only 17 years, 236 days when he played for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup. He later scored two goals in the final against host Sweden.
In 2000, FIFA chose Pele and Argentina striker Diego Maradona as the greatest players in soccer history.
Peru striker Teofilo Cubillas, the best young player at the 1970 World Cup, was second to Pele with 10 percent of the vote, followed by England forward Michael Owen with 8 percent for his play at the 1998 tournament.
Germany defender Franz Beckenbauer was also in the running for his play in 1966, and Netherlands winger Marc Overmars for taking part in 1994.
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SUPPORT FROM ABOVE: The Church of England will be praying for everyone taking part in this year's World Cup, with a special mention for the boys from England.
The country's officially established church posted two prayers on its Web site. Both ask for everyone involved in the tournament in Germany to be protected, but one adds the line, "and especially for those who represent our nation."
England has won the World Cup once, in 1966, and it was expected to challenge for another title this year until striker Wayne Rooney broke his right foot. The Manchester United forward may be able to play in the latter stages of the tournament, if England advances, but he is expected to miss the group games against Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago.
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RACE TO GET HEALTHY: One of Argentina's biggest injury worries is Gabriel Heinze.
The Manchester United defender ruptured knee ligaments in a Champions League match against Villarreal last September. He hasn't played since, but with the World Cup less than a month away, he's close to being healthy.
"It has been a long and frustrating eight months for me, with a lot of hard work involved in getting back to fitness," Heinze said. "It was a slow process. But I just had to remain patient and slowly build up my fitness so that I could return to the best of my ability."
Heinze is expected to anchor the defense for Argentina, which will be looking to win its third World Cup title in Germany.
Argentina coach Jose Pekerman said Heinze should be ready.
"Heinze should be on the list, as it looks like he will be fully fit and ready for the World Cup," Pekerman said. "Heinze's knee has recovered perfectly and he is now suffering muscle pains that are perfectly normal as he is back in full-time training after an injury. We are keeping a close eye on him."
