Former Brazilian World Cup winning striker Mario Zagallo has confirmed that he has no intentions of retiring from his position as Brazil’s assistant coach after the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Zagallo, who is 74 years old, and won the World Cup as a player in 1958 and in 1962, and as Brazil’s national coach in 1970, has said he's not ready to retire from the Brazilian national coaching team, and that he plans to continue working well after next year's tournament.

In an interview on Brazil’s Globo TV, the former striker said: “No, the World Cup in Germany won't be my last”…“For me, work is a synonym of health, it does me a lot of good.”

Zagallo had to miss Brazil winning the Confederations Cup in Germany last June after having to undergo surgery on his stomach, and then being forced to spend more than a month recuperating in hospital.

The assistant coach also believes that Brazil has been drawn in one of the easier group’s in next year's tournament, having been drawn in Group F with Croatia, Japan and Australia, and considers the group, “not too easy and not too hard.”

“It's a good group,'' he said. "Brazil is better than its three (opponents), but it doesn't mean it will enter the field as a big favorite.”

The World Cup kicks off on June 9th, but Brazil will have to wait for their first group match, with their first game to be played on June 13 against Croatia in Berlin.

The World Champions then play Australia’s Socceroos on June 18th in Munich, and former World Cup hosts Japan on June 22nd in Dortmund.

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