体坛英语新闻：Brazil confirms practice friendlies against Panama, Serbia

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's national team will play two practice friendlies against Panama and Serbia prior to its 2014 Brazil World Cup inaugural match against Croatia on June 12 in Sao Paulo.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said Wednesday the 23-man lineup assembled by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is set to travel to the east central city of Goiania on June 1, where it will play Panama two days later.

On June 5, the team travels to Sao Paulo for its next-day match against Serbia.

Neither Panama nor Serbia qualified for this year's World Cup.

After playing the Cup's opening game, Brazil's second match will be against Mexico on June 17, in the northeast city of Fortaleza, and its third and final match of the group phase will be against Cameroon on June 23, in the capital Brasilia.

The tournament from June 12 to July 13 will feature 32 national teams, including host country team Brazil, already a five-time World Cup winner.