Have email Major League Baseball news delivered to your mailbox. Lopes told Brazilian media Leao was the man to see the four-times world champions through to next year's World Cup despite South American giants' dreadful form in qualifying so far. Leao will remain in charge through to the 2002 World Cup. Following the 1-1 draw in Sao Paulo last Wednesday with Peru, which prompted a storm of booing from the home fans, the Brazilian press speculated that Leao could be fired and replaced by Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led the South Americans to the 1994 World Cup. Leao now has to find quick solutions for the remaining qualifying matches while juggling those with the need to put up a good showing at the Confederations Cup in the summer as well as the Copa America in Colombia this July.
Brazil still have three tough tests to overcome in the World Cup campaign.
Their next match is away to Uruguay in Montevideo in July, while they have yet to travel to runaway leaders Argentina. And they also face a lung-busting examination at high altitude in Bolivia. The samba stars additionally face Paraguay, Chile and Venezuela at home.