COSTA DO SAUIPE, Dec 5 — European teams are likely to struggle at a World Cup in sultry Brazil, and a South American side to triumph, England legend Geoff Hurst predicted today.

“I think England will expect to do well, but there has to be an element of realism when you look at the history of World Cups,” said Hurst, the only man ever to score a World Cup final hattrick.

England coach Roy Hodgson said en route to tomorrow’s draw venue of Costa do Sauipe in northeastern Brazil that the Three Lions were as concerned about where they would play as which teams they would draw.

“Brazil is such a vast country,” noted Hurst, whose Wembley treble saw off Germany in 1966 for England’s only triumph in a major competition to date.

“Each World Cup venue presents its interesting aspects,” added Hurst, 71, a West Ham stalwart along with late 1966 England skipper Bobby Moore when England confounded the Germans.

Indeed, as a non-seeded European side England are liable to be drawn in Brazil’s group and could theoretically have to travel to venues including Manaus and Recife, where sweltering temperatures would await them.

In addition, both venues are some 3000km from Rio, where England will be based come June.

Hurst said he had not seen Hodgson’s comments earlier this week stating concern for the heat and amount of miles a team might clock up given an unfavourable draw.

But he did tell reporters he expected a South American side to emerge victorious given the climactic conditions.

“There has to be some realism for the European team,” said Hurst, noting that six previous tournaments in Latin America have seen South American winners on each occasion.

“Brazil must be looked upon as favourites. Anyone wanting to win will have to beat Brazil to do it,” forecast Hurst, who said he had fond memories of a 1969 friendly in Brazil.

“I’m not sure what the crowd was — but it seemed like 100 million!”

Last month, Hurst urged fans to lay aside fears Brazil would prove an expensive venue for the event with some domestic flights having soared as much as ten times normal rates.

Predicting a “sensational” event he said he believed fans would take in games and then stay on to make a holiday out of the occasion to visit “iconic” venues such as Copacabana beach in Rio. — AFP