Zico, the Japan national coach has ridiculed FIFA's decision of making Spain a seeded nation in the draw for the 2006 World Cup finals.

Despite having to come through a play-off with Slovakia to qualify, Spain were named amongst the eight seeds for last Friday’s draw in Leipzig, where Spain were grouped together with the Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia in Group H.

Japan, meanwhile, are in line for a more challenging group campaign, as they have been drawn in Group F where they face Japan’s coach Zico compatriots Brazil, Croatia and former Korea coach Guus Hiddink’s Australia.

"Spain have never won anything," said the 52-year-old coach of the constant international tournament underachievers, Spain.

“I do not agree with FIFA's rules. I do not understand the criteria to choose the leaders group.”

In a reference to the mystery surrounding the details of the seeding, and rules for the World Cup draw, Zico said, "It is a mysterious criteria because they reveal the details only three days before the draw."

Brazilian football legend Zico, who made 89 appearances for Brazil, and scored a total of 66 goals for the ‘Seleção’, claimed that Spain's selection by FIFA as a seeded team was, "Ugly, dirty and political.”

“They (FIFA) only think about the traditional national teams and, after that, they think up rules to make the draw to their pleasure.”

"South Korea qualified first in their qualifiers, while Spain had to play a play-off, so why are Spain at the top of Group H?”

“The conditions must be equal for all teams. After the Germany World Cup, some rules need to be changed,” concluded Zico.

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