SAO PAULO - Brazil assistant coach and former world champion Carlos Alberto Parreira says its "a joke" that the Brazilian government took so long to start working on some of the infrastructure projects needed for the World Cup. With less than five months before the tournament, Parreira said he is disappointed with the countrys preparations and accused the government of missing a huge opportunity to improve conditions for Brazilians. Parreira told Radio CBN in an interview first aired Sunday that he believes stadiums will be ready in time, but its a shame most infrastructure projects that could benefit Brazilians wont be completed until long after the World Cup. The World Cup-winning coach in 1994 is the latest past champion to blast Brazils preparations, following the recent criticism by former players Cafu, Bebeto and Rivaldo. "We missed an opportunity to show the world what we can do in this country," Parreira said. "We missed an opportunity to provide more comfort to Brazilians and to show a different kind of Brazil." The country has only seven of the 12 World Cup stadiums ready for the tournament that opens in June, and there are still doubts whether Curitiba will remain a host city because of delays in its stadium. But the greatest missed opportunities are related to the infrastructure work that was supposed to remain a legacy to the countrys population. Many of the projects promised by the government will not be completed in time or wont even leave the drawing board. "We know the World Cup is about stadiums, but its not only about stadiums. Fans cant live in a stadium," Parreira said. "They say everything will eventually be ready in 2018, 2020... but we wanted it ready for the World Cup to try to change this view that the foreigners have about Brazil." Parreira said the government is mostly to blame. "Everything was supposed to be ready for the World Cup, but it was a total neglect," he said. "I saw recently that they are going to start the bidding processes for (work at) airports in March, three months before the World Cup. Its a joke. We won the bid seven years ago and its only now that they are starting these bidding processes." Parreira, who also coached Brazil in the 2006 World Cup, made some specific complaints about Rio de Janeiro, the city hosting the 2016 Olympics. "Rio will always continue to attract tourists. Its a wonderful city. I cant think of a city that is more beautiful than Rio," said the 70-year-old Parreira, an assistant to Luiz Felipe Scolari. "But we all know that it could offer us a lot more comfort, a lot more safety and a better quality of life." Brazil is expected to spend a total of about $14 billion in the World Cup, and the lack of government improvements to society prompted violent protests during the Confederations Cup last year. There were some demonstrations on Saturday in dozens of cities, and a lot more is expected during the World Cup, footballs showcase event. Cafu and Bebeto, World Cup winners with Parreira in 1994, last week said it would be a disaster if Curitiba was dropped because of the stadium delay there. Rivaldo, the former Barcelona midfielder who was key for Brazil when the five-time champion won the 2002 World Cup, said the country will "embarrass itself" because of its problematic preparations. Cheap NHL Jerseys . Fellow Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain also had a brace for Napoli. And Samuel Etoo scored for his fourth different team. On a night of standout individual performances Wednesday, Schalke goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand had a game hell want to forget. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar College Jersey .com) - The Toronto Raptors set their sights on a second straight victory with the Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the Air Canada Centre tonight riding a two game streak of their own. http://www.jerseyssafe.ru/ncaa-blue-navy-arcidiacono-villanova-jersey-stitched-wildcats-ryan-15-basketball-no-46.html .com) - The Miami Heat stopped a four-game losing streak last time out and thats the same length slide their opponents Wednesday night, the Denver Nuggets, will try to halt when the two teams meet at the Pepsi Center. Josh Hart Villanova Jersey . Toronto (11-12) gave up leads in 10-8 and 11-4 losses to the Baltimore Orioles this week. It was never close Friday as the Boston Red Sox got to Mark Buehrle early en route to an 8-1 win. Kevin Love UCLA Jersey . - Frankie (The Answer) Edgar dominated B.ROGERS, Ark. -- Michelle Wie didnt let a little thing like a hectic national media tour slow the momentum following her U.S. Womens Open victory last week at Pinehurst. The former prodigy continued her resurgence on the LPGA Tour on Friday, shooting a 5-under 66 to finish a stroke behind leader Hamiltons Alena Sharp after the first round of the NW Arkansas Championship. Wie spent much of her week leading into the tournament busy on the national morning television circuit, only arriving at Pinnacle Country Club on Thursday. Following a practice round and 12 hours of much-needed sleep, the most recognizable name on the LPGA Tour shot a bogey-free 66 on the 6,375 yard layout -- closing with a birdie on the par-5 18th and upstaging local favourite Stacy Lewis. "Definitely running on fumes right now," Wie said. "... I think it definitely struck me on the back nine, a little bit tired, but I just was really excited to get out here and start playing again. New York was fun, but its just fun to get back to playing golf." Sharp, ranked 234th in the world, had only 27 putts in her opening 65, while Mexicos Alejandra Llaneza matched Wie with a bogey-free 66. The top-ranked Stacy Lewis, who played at the nearby University of Arkansas, was 2 over after four holes before recovering to finish with a 70. Ten players, including major champions So Yeon Ryu and Shanshan Feng, shot 67. Sharp entered this week having missed the cut in six of her 11 LPGA Tour events this year, though she did win the Symetra Tours season-opening event in Arizona in February. She entered the week 137th on the LPGA Tour with an average of 31.34 putts per round, but she credited a recently putting lesson for Fridays improvement. "Im trusting it more and jusst trying to relax," Sharp said.dddddddddddd "Its been a part of my game that hasnt been the greatest this year. Ive hit a lot of greens and not making a lot of birdies, so today was definitely a step in the right direction." While Sharp controlled the leaderboard following the morning group, Wie overcame windy conditions to post the best round of the afternoon -- closing with a 4-under 31 on the back nine. She closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th and needed only 28 putts in her first round since earning her first major championship at Pinehurst. Wie, who was 64th on the LPGA Tour money list in 2012 and 41st last year, has yet to miss a cut this year and leads the money list with nearly $1.6 million. "I just feel comfortable out there, and Im trying to keep improving a little bit every day and still working on a lot of things," Wie said. Lewis earned an unofficial win in the rain-shortened event as an amateur in 2007, but the Texas native, who finished second to Wie in the Womens Open, struggled early on Friday -- much to the dismay of her large pro-Razorbacks gallery. She was 2 over after four holes, thanks to a missed 4-foot par putt on No. 2 and a bogey from the greenside bunker on No. 4. Lewis recovered with three birdies to finish 1 under, but she needed 31 putts on her way to settling for a tie for 43rd. "Its always hard playing here," Lewis said. "People, I dont think they realize how hard it is. Theres a lot of pressure, and its hard to not put too much pressure on yourself." European Solheim Cup star Caroline Hedwall also was in the group at 67 along with Jennifer Rosales, Moriya Jutanugarn, Emma Jandel, Gerina Piller, Ji Young Oh, Pornanong Phatlum and Paz Echeverria. 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