Brazilian president welcomes Australian football team

Rio de Janeiro, May 30 (IANS) Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has welcomed the Australian national football 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 Thursday, Rousseff greeted the Australian squad, the first foreign team to arrive in Brazil for the tournament, reports Xinhua.

"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 Australians headed to the city of Vitoria, in Espirito Santo state, southeastern region, where they will begin their preparation for the tournament.

Australia's have been clubbed with defending champions Spains, runners-up Netherlands and Chile in Group B. Their first match will be June 13 against Chile in the midwestern Brazilian city of Cuiaba.

As a part of their warm-up, Australia will play two friendly matches against Croatia and local club Parana.