Five-times world champions Brazil offered Mano Menezes the coach's job on Friday shortly after original choice Muricy Ramalho's club Fluminense refused to release him.
With a passionate crowd behind them, a savvy coach and a settled team enjoying a sparkling run of form Brazil are hot favourites to lift a record sixth World Cup this July.
Luiz Felipe Scolari took over as the coach of 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil on Thursday, returning for a second stint to lead his country's bid to win a sixth world title on home soil in little more than 18 months' time.
Luiz Felipe Scolari is set to be named as the new coach of 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil on Thursday, a source close to Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.
Brazil's experimental team came through a torrid friendly against Bosnia on Tuesday, winning 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time own goal by Sasa Papac after several near misses from the East Europeans.
Ronaldinho has been told by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari that he must justify his surprise inclusion for Brazil after a one-year absence.
Brazil could field Ronaldinho, Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, a key trio in their 2014 World Cup ambitions, when they meet Bosnia in a friendly in Switzerland on February 28.
Brazil will play Argentina in two friendlies next month, one in each country, with teams picked from the domestic leagues, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Wednesday.
New Brazil coach Mano Menezes made wholesale changes with only four survivors from the World Cup when he named his squad on Monday for next month's friendly against the United States.
Brazil rose two places to fifth in this month's FIFA rankings, ending a downward trend after hitting an 18-year low in September.
Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar was called up by Brazil for the first time since the 2010 World Cup on Tuesday for next month's friendly away to France. The 23-man squad picked by coach Mano Menezes includes uncapped midfielders Jadson of Shakhtar Donetsk and Renato Augusto of Bayer Leverkusen.
Alexandre Pato scored again to help a new-look and more adventurous Brazil beat Iran 3-0 on Thursday in their second win in two internationals under new coach Mano Menezes.
Brazil coach Mano Menezes has named injured pair Paulo Henrique Ganso and Alexandre Pato in his 22-man squad for the Copa America.
Mano Menezes, a specialist in leading big clubs out of the doldrums but little-known outside his own country, became the coach of Brazil on Saturday when he accepted an offer from the five-times world champions.
Brazil's World Cup captain Lucio and his Inter Milan teammate Maicon were recalled for the first time since the 2010 finals on Thursday to meet Scotland in a friendly in London on March 27.
After a World Cup where they failed to live up to expectations, the smiles appeared to return to Brazilian faces again on Tuesday after a new-look team beat the United States 2-0 in a friendly.
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