Pretoria - Five times World Cup champions Brazil became the second team to arrive at the OR Tambo International Airport this morning for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The team, that include top striker Kaka, was welcomed by Local Organising Committee chairman Irvin Khoza. The Brazilian team arrived 24 hours after the Australian team touched down at the airport on Wednesday evening.
The Brazilians, who will be staying at Fairway Hotel and Spa in Randburg, will kick-off their World Cup campaign against Korea DPR at Ellis Park stadium on 15 June.
They will then play Cote d'Ivoire at the iconic Soccer City stadium on 20 June before travelling to Durban for their final Group Match against Portugal on 25 June. While Italy has not been ruled out as possible winners of this year's World Cup, Brazil is no doubt going into the tournament heavily favoured.
The Samba Boys, also winners of last year's Confederations Cup, are preparing to contest their 19th consecutive FIFA World Cup final. They are the only country to have taken part in every edition of the global showpiece. Brazil are also the only country to have won the title five times, amassing a total of 64 victories, 14 draws and 14 defeats in 92 games played.
Meanwhile, Australian coach, Pim Verbeek, said the most important thing for his team is to win the first game. "We have given ourselves plenty of time to prepare and acclimatise to the local conditions.
"The players will have to get used to the altitude and the few warm-up matches will help us a lot in achieving this.
When playing in the World Cup, you have to prepare yourself and make sure the team is in good condition," Verbeek was quoted as saying by FIFA.com.
Australia will be temporarily based at Da Vinci Hotel in Sandton
