RIO DE JANEIRO, July 9 — Brazil legend Pele was quick to cast aside his country’s seven-goal World Cup rout at Germany’s hands today, saying the Selecao would deliver in Russia in 2018.

“We’ll get the sixth title in Russia. Congratulations to Germany,” Pele wrote on his Twitter feed.

“I always said that football is a box of surprises. Nobody in this world expected this result,” said Pele, who played in three World Cup-winning Brazil teams.

Brazil had been hoping to extend their record of five wins in the competition.

But, as with their previous hosting in 1950, they failed to land the trophy on home soil as the Germans annihilated them 7-1 in their Belo Horizonte semi-final. — AFP