RIO DE JANEIRO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Thursday welcomed the Australian national soccer team to the country and wished them luck in the FIFA World Cup, which starts in exact two weeks in 12 Brazilian cities.
Through her Twitter account, President Rousseff greeted the Australian squad, the first foreign team to arrive in Brazil for the tournament.
"I want to welcome the Australian team, the first foreign team to arrive in Brazil for the World Cup. I wish Coach Ange Postecoglou and the Australian team a nice stay in Brazil and good luck in the Cup's Group B," she said.
The Australian team arrived in Brazil on Wednesday, heading to the city of Vitoria, in Espirito Santo state, southeastern region, where they will begin their preparation for the tournament.
Australia's companions in the B Group are Spain, the current Cup champion, Netherlands and Chile. Their first match will be on June 13th against Chile, in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso state, in Brazil's midwestern region.
Before the beginning of the Cup, Australia will play two friendly matches, one against the Croatian squad, which is in Group A with Brazil, Mexico and Cameroon; and one against local club Parana.
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