'Brazil must aim high'

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said Wednesday his charges must aim high and target the title when they host next year's World Cup.
"I took on the national side to be champion -- do you think I am going to say anything else?" asked Scolari rhetorically in an address to the Footecon football trade fair in Rio.
Having overseen the Selecao's fifth World Cup success in Japan in 2002, Scolari took the reins once more a year ago and promptly secured a resounding Confederations Cup success over world champions Spain last June on home soil.
That win has prompted domestic pundits to demand more of the same next June with Brazil desperate to win the tournament for the first time in front of their own fans -- they were stunned in the 1950 final in Rio by little neighbours Uruguay.
Scolari has said for weeks he knows in essence who he will select in his 23-man squad and revealed that striker Fred, who dovetailed well with Barcelona starlet Neymar last June, will be fit despite an injury-plagued season at Fluminense.
"The cup is in June, so he will have time to recover," said Scolari, whose team will face Croatia in the opening World Cup match on June 12 in Sao Paulo.
The Brazilians will then take on Mexico and Cameroon in their other pool matches.
Players looking to earn places on the roster include Chelsea midfielder Willian and AC Milan's Robinho, who is set to profit from Diego Costa's recent decision to play for Spain.
Scolari, who said in the run-up to Friday's World Cup draw at Costa do Sauipe in north-eastern Brazil that the hosts had an "obligation" to take the crown.