"For many years, Brazil has gone into World Cups as favourites and it will be the same for the 2006 World Cup," Parreira said.

"I think that Brazil have to assume their role as favourites. That is the best way," he added, as his team prepare for their opening match in the Confederations Cup in Germany against Greece in Leipzig on Thursday.

Brazil suffered a setback to their campaign to qualify for the 2006 finals in Germany when they were beaten 3-1 by their arch rivals Argentina last week.

However they only need three points from their last three matches to reach the finals.

Parreira brushed off criticism of his team, saying expectations of Brazil were always high.

"I recall that the 1970 team was highly criticised," he said of Pele's team which dazzled in the finals in Mexico.

"It was the same in 1994 (when he was coach), nobody believed in the team and we became world champions. It happened again in 2002, when the team was discredited until the final qualifying matches. Yet we were the best team at that World Cup."

Pele said this week that he believed the 2006 World Cup final would feature Brazil against Germany, the same as in 2002 in Yokohama when Brazil won.

Source: Yahoo News