Ronaldinho smiles during a training session for the Brazilian national soccer team in Teresopolis Oct. 9, 2007. Brazil will play in a World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match against Colombia in Bogota on Oct. 14.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's national football team on Tuesday started to practice for World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador.

    The players arrived in the afternoon at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) training center, in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro's mountain region.

    After working out at the gym, goalkeepers Doni (Roma) and Julio Cesar (Internazionale) practiced with the team's goalkeeping coach, while the others went jogging under trainer Paulo Paixao's supervision. Striker Robinho was the only one dismissed from the session by the medical committee, due to an ankle injured in a Real Madrid game.

    The squad's first qualifier will take place in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday, while the match against Ecuador will be held in the Maracana Stadium, in Rio, on Oct. 17.

    "The qualifiers are a very long competition, and as tough as the World Cup itself. Several things can happen and many players may come up. It is always necessary to work hard to help Brazil," Milan midfielder Kaka told the local media on Tuesday.

    The players will hold practices in Rio up to Friday, when they will head for Colombia.

    Brazil's last game in the qualifiers, comprised of 10 rounds, is scheduled for Oct. 2009, against Venezuela. Four South American teams will qualify for the 2010 World Cup, and the fifth best ranked will try the playoffs, against a team of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).