Brazil bids to halt losing streak

Brazil coach Mano Menezes will try to halt his team's worst losing streak in nearly three years when the five-time World Cup winners take on Scotland in London on Sunday.

After replacing Dunga following Brazil's World Cup quarterfinal elimination, Menezes led his side to three straight wins before consecutive 1-0 friendly losses away from home against Argentina and France derailed progress somewhat.

Scotland would appear to be an ideal opponent as Menezes tries to find the right balance between youth and experience ahead of July's Copa America defense in Argentina.

With Ronaldinho and Robinho omitted, Alexandre Pato out injured and Nilmar struggling with a muscle problem, there are opportunities for less heralded players to impress against Scotland - which has never won in nine meetings with Brazil and is No. 50 in FIFA's rankings.

''The new manager is trying to give opportunities to the young players and trying to build a new team so a lot of new faces are here,'' midfielder Lucas Leiva said. ''But we just have to take the opportunity to try and be in the squad all the time and look to the Copa America.''

Brazil has outscored Scotland 14-3 and won seven of the teams' meetings, but players' confidence has been hit as the side lost two straight games for the first time since June 2008.

''It will be a very important game for us,'' Lucas said. ''We lost the last games so the pressure is a bit higher but we have a good team and hopefully we will play a very good match.

''Hopefully we will play with confidence and I am sure we will have a big opportunity to win and be confident for the rest of the games.''

Pato's withdrawal from the game at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium because of an ankle injury complicates Menezes' task.

Newcomer Jonas, the struggling Nilmar and Neymar are the only other recognized strikers in the squad, so the likes of Elano - back in the squad for the first time since the World Cup quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands - will have to provide attacking support from midfield.

There should be no such problems in defense, with Maicon and Lucio also back for the first time since the World Cup to bolster a back line also featuring Daniel Alves and David Luiz - who has been in top form since moving to London with Chelsea in Jaunary.

Scotland has struggled over the past three years but has racked up consecutive 3-0 wins since a morale-boosting performance in October when the side fought back from 2-0 to 2-2 against Spain.

The world and European champion eventually prevailed 3-2 with a late goal, and coach Craig Levein said his players must continue to face the best possible opponents if they are to improve further.

''You have to stretch yourself at times and see where you are and that's what this game is for: to see where we actually are,'' Levein said. ''If you take on the best teams in the world you have to be in a good place mentally to do that and the players are in that place just now.''