SARANSK, Russia (AP) — Brazil’s jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made his debut as a soccer pundit, writing a column from behind bars in which he criticized Brazil’s performance in the team’s 1-1 World Cup draw against Switzerland.
“Qualifying is one thing. The World Cup is different,” da Silva wrote in comments that were read by a reporter on the ex-president’s Workers’ Party TV on Monday.
Da Silva, known by his admirers as “Lula,” began serving a 12-year sentence for corruption in April. He remains the Workers’ Party’s candidate for president in October’s elections and he leads presidential preference polls, but he likely will be barred from running.
The former president can still appeal his conviction, which he calls politically fabricated.
Da Silva also provided some analysis of other teams.
“The first week of the World Cup proves Germany is not unbeatable and, among the top players, only Cristiano Ronaldo proved his value,” he wrote.
Da Silva warned Brazil for Friday’s match against Costa Rica: “Be careful, because we all know one day the little David can defeat the giant Goliath.”
In a plea bargain signed last year, executives of construction company Odebrecht said they built Arena Corinthians to open the 2014 World Cup as a gift to the former president.
