NEW YORK -- Pele is mourning the passing of the beautiful game, a phrase many say was coined by the 73-year-old Brazilian football wizard. In an interview with The Associated Press, Pele said tactics have become more and more defensive over the past decades since his retirement. Flowing attack has become a rarity and Pele is saddened by that. "Italy always played defence -- in my time, now, always," he said. "But unfortunately today, I think because of the millions, because of the new technology, because of the money from the sponsors, the people, they dont care the way they win." He says the message from coaches is not win, but rather "dont lose." "They dont care about the beautiful game. They dont care about the elegance of football. In my time, we used to think and give a little show." As the World Cup returns to the land of "jogo bonito" (the beautiful game), Pele has a new book, "Pele: Why Soccer Matters." He doesnt expect Brazil to have an easy path to a record sixth World Cup title -- two more than any other nation. "Germany has a very good team, young team, and then Spain. Spain is a team who plays together eight years, 10 years -- same team. Very nice organized team," he said on Wednesday. "This will be difficult. But we must respect Italy. We must respect Uruguay, because Uruguay is there. Argentina is there." Pele was a part of Brazils first three World Cup champions, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and he scored 77 goals in 92 games. He starred for Santos from 1956-74 and kick-started football in the United States with New York Cosmos from 1975-77. He still keeps an apartment in Manhattan. When he retired, he was considered to have no equal. Then Diego Maradona led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup with amazing darting runs, and to the 1990 final. And in this era, Barcelonas Lionel Messi and Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo are scoring at pretty much a goal-a-game rate for their clubs, although they havent won the ultimate prize with the national teams. "To compare Pele with Messi, with Maradona, is difficult because we have different styles," Pele said. If Pele were in charge of a club, who would be the first player hed try to sign? "Im going to say Neymar because he belongs to us. He comes for free," said Pele, referring to the young Brazilian forward Santos sold to Barcelona last summer. "But at the moment," Pele went on, "as I am a forward, as I score a lot of goals, I will decide: Cristiano Ronaldo." Stitched Grizzlies Jerseys . Omar Rahou made the discriminatory gesture several times while celebrating scoring a goal against Romania at Antwerp in January, UEFA said. The sanction was double the five-match ban Nicolas Anelka received from an English Football Association independent tribunal last week for the same act. 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It was the word of opportunity for Reimer, who has fallen into the role of backup, outmatched in recent weeks by Jonathan Bernier, his Quebec counterpart.Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, his assistant Jesus Perez and head of recruitment Paul Mitchell attended Republic of Ireland against the Netherlands on Friday to watch potential transfer targets. And Sky sources understand the most notable among them was the Dutch striker Vincent Janssen, who plays for AZ Alkmaar. Janssen was the top scorer in the Eredivisie last season with 27 goals at just 21 years old, and a new, young centre-forward is of priority to Spurs this summer. Mauricio Pochettino is keen to bolster his Tottenham squad Sources in the Netherlands have told Sky Sports News HQ that Janssen is of interest to a number of Premier League clubs, with Tottenham and Leicester among them, and Janssen is keen on a move to England.Pochettino, Perez and Mitchell were pictured sitting with Southampton striker Shane Longs agent Pat Dolan, whom they all knnow well and looks after a number of Republic of Ireland players.dddddddddddd Janssen scored an equalising penalty against England recently But they were primarily there to watch Janssen, who is a target for Spurs along with the Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, whom Mitchell recently watched in the French Cup final, and Bournemouths Callum Wilson.Sky sources understand that Spurs also want to bolster further attacking-midfield, defensive-midfield and centre-back options in the next transfer window and the Dutch national team have other talented young players including Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer. 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