FIFA President Sepp Blatter Gives World Cup 2014 9.25 Marks out of 10

FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday lavished praise on the World Cup in Brazil, saying it had been a "very special" event. (Brazil celebrate Germany's Win Against Rivals Argentina)

"What makes the World Cup so very special this time is the quality of the football, the intensity of the Games," said Blatter, adding FIFA gave the tournament 9.25 out of ten.  (Argentina press lauds 'Heart of Champions')

Blatter saluted the passion and the intensity of the 32 teams in the event which culminated in Germany beating Argentina in the final on Sunday to win their fourth title. (Fans helped us win World Cup: Schweinsteiger)

"There was not one single match which didn't have this intensity," Blatter told reporters, while conceding that no tournament could ever be perfect. (Germans see World Cup win as symbol of global might)

"It's more than emotion and passion -- it is a drama," said Blatter, who was presiding over his fifth World Cup as the head of football's world governing body. (Lionel Messi squanders chance to join greats)

He said that after an explosive first phase teams had become more tactical, but that the tournament had been one of the most attractive ever, with a joint record 171 goals scored.

Blatter also said that the event had been notable for its spirit of fair play but said football had to continue to strive ever harder to erase racism

Brazil's Local Organizing Committee said it calculated that some 700,000 foreign visitors had visited Brazil in June alone -- 132% more than the same month last year when Brazil hosted the eight-team Confederations Cup.

Prior to the World Cup Brazil had predicted 600,000 foreign visitors for the World Cup as a whole.

Deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes said one of the resons why the event had gone so well, after initial concerns at construction delays and poor infrastructure was strong integration between organizers and the government.