SHANGHAI Pele believes Brazil have a few wrinkles to iron out before they have a chance at this year's World Cup finals.

The four-time World Cup winners have been dogged by injuries, coaching problems, controversies over its lineup and internationals tied up with club commitments overseas.

"When you change the coach, it's very hard to get teamwork," Pele, a member of three Brazilian World Cup-winning sides, told a news conference in Shanghai on Tuesday.

"Besides that, we didn't have time to bring our players who play in Europe to train, to get together. They used to come one day, two days before the game," he said.

Brazil struggled during a qualifying process in which they lost four coaches and six matches. They beat Venezuela 3-0 in their final match to maintain their unique record of playing at every World Cup.

Coach Luiz Felipe "Big Phil" Scolari took the helm in June last year after his predecessor Emerson Leao was sacked, but has yet to announce the squad for the finals in South Korea and Japan.

Pele said he hoped Brazilian talent would pull the team together in the days remaining.

Argentina, France, England or Portugal would be likely to win the World Cup if it were played today, he said.

"I think the best players in the world are Brazilians, and they're playing in Europe. When we have the opportunity to put those players together, I think Brazil will have a good team," he said.

"We always think to be in the final," he added.

Huge question marks hang over the lineup, which Pele said could include injured Paris St. Germain's Ronaldinho and 36-year-old Romario, who has been repeatedly overlooked by the national coach.

"All those problems make Brazil not have the same confidence as before," said Pele, who was in the World Cup-winning squads in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

"But myself, I think we are one of the teams who come to the second round, no doubt."

Brazil is grouped with China, Costa Rica and Turkey in the first round, Reuters reported.

"China has a big possibility to qualify," he said.

"China is better prepared than Costa Rica. I think it's the same level as Turkey. I spoke with Chinese Coach Bora (Milutinovic) who says he will fight with Brazil to see who is the first in this group."