Pele hails Owen

Brazil's World Cup legend Pele airs his views

By BBC Sport Online's Stuart Roach

World Cup legend Pele has tipped England's David Beckham and Michael Owen to shine in Korea and Japan - but insists neither are yet in the same league as Zinedine Zidane.

Pele, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, believes England will be among the leading contenders for next year's crown.

But he warned Sven-Goran Eriksson's men may have to wait another four years, with the best still to come from Owen and Beckham.

In Brazil, we never had it in our minds that we would not qualify

Pele

"There is no doubt that Owen can become the best in the world," Pele told BBC Sport Online.

"He is still young but he has experience and he is quick.

"Beckham is a different kind of player. He is more technical and can set up the team and the game

"Both of them can be mentioned among the best in the world, but if I had a vote for world player of the year I would stay with Zinedine Zidane.

"Raul played well last season and was impressive for Spain, but Zidane has been stable at his level for as much as eight years.

"Rivaldo is good for Barcelona but for Brazil he did not do it."

Pele also predicted Zidane would complete a glorious summer by helping France to the World Cup final again.

Not against Brazil, but their South American rivals Argentina.

Zidane: Best in the world

"You have to respect all the big names," Pele said.

"I would expect Italy to do well. Even if they don't play well they can come good.

"You must respect England. They have a good team, no doubt, but it is unfortunate that we have lost Holland.

"For the World Cup, that is a big loss.

"But, if I had to choose two, then I would say that Argentina and France would be in the final."

Having seen his beloved boys from Brazil scrape through to the finals in their last qualifying match, Pele believed they could still challenge for an unprecedented fifth world crown.

"In Brazil, we never had it in our minds that we were not going to qualify," though a wry smile suggested the thought may have briefly crossed his mind.

"Who knows, six months is enough time to improve the team.

"At the moment, Brazil have a coach [Felipe Scolari] who likes to play defensive football and that is not the Brazilian way.

"The current Brazil team play a hard game, but I hope that in the six months between now and the World Cup he can put together a team to play like Brazil."