Brazil need to improve - Scolari

25 April 2013 11:46

Brazil need to improve before next year's World Cup on home soil, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted, after he saw his side held again in a friendly on Wednesday.

"We still have a lot of work to do... We know that we're not ready, everyone knows it," he added following the 2-2 draw against Chile in Belo Horizonte.

The five-time world champions - who qualify automatically as hosts for next year's showpiece event - were without their European-based stars for the match but did have Ronaldinho, Neymar and Alexandre Pato in their line-up.

Some 53,000 people watched the game at the venue, which was opened in December last year and will host matches in the Confederation Cup tournament from June 15-30.

The result -- the Selecao's third draw in five games since Scolari took over in November last year -- was met with whistles from the crowd.

The man nicknamed "Big Phil" was the last Brazil coach to take the country to World Cup glory in 2002 and hopes have been high that he can repeat the feat next year.

Brazil have fallen to 19th in the FIFA world rankings -- their lowest-ever position -- although the world governing body awards fewer points for friendlies than competitive qualifying matches.

Brazil have two further friendlies lined up before the Confederations Cup.

On June 2, they play England in the inaugural match at the revamped Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, then take on France on June 9 in Porto Alegre in the southeast of the country.

Source: AFP