Brazil's failings in delivering this summer's World Cup have been highlighted by Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who said no previous host country has been so far behind in its preparations.

Six of the 12 host stadia have failed to meet the December 31 deadline, while delays have also affected work on hotels, roads and airports.

Blatter pointed out Brazil has had seven years since it was awarded the tournament - previous hosts only had six years or even less time.

Asked if World Cup hosts realised the scale of work involved, the Fifa chief said: "No. Brazil has just found out what it means and has started work much too late.

"No country has been so far behind in preparations since I have been at Fifa, even though it is the only host nation which has had so much time - seven years - in which to prepare."

Work on three stadia in Brazil is likely to go on until the middle of April, just a few weeks before the start of the tournament on June 12, but Blatter admitted in December that there is "no plan B".

This includes the Itaquera Arena in Sao Paulo which will host the opening ceremony and first match of the finals between Brazil and Croatia. It has suffered one problem after another, culminating in the death of two workers last year.

The Brazilian government announced it would be completed in February, only for - a day later - Fifa to confirm another deadline of April 15.

Blatter also conceded that he expected there to be more of the protests that dominated last summer's Confederations Cup.