Brazil swap Kuwaiti heat for chilly Scandinavia

STOCKHOLM, Oct 9 (Reuters) Brazil swap the heat of Kuwait for the autumnal chill of Stockholm when they face fellow South Americans Ecuador at the scene of one of their most famous triumphs tomorrow.

The globetrotting Brazilians, who played two matches in London last month, beat a Kuwait Select team 4-0 in almost 40C in Kuwait on Saturday and now face Ecuador in another friendly in the Swedish capital where the mercury will barely touch 10C.

The game will take place at the Rasunda stadium, where Brazil famously beat Sweden 5-2 in the 1958 World Cup final to win the first of their record five world titles.

The match will always be remembered for the two goals scored by the 17-year-old Pele, including one in which he lobbed the ball over a bemused defender and smashed it into the net.

Brazil have returned to the arena three times since then in 1965, 1973 and 1988 for friendlies against Sweden.

This time, Brazil will be attempting to extend their three match unbeaten run under new coach Dunga, who replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira following their quarter-final exit at the World Cup.

They will also out to avenge a 1-0 defeat in their last meeting against the Ecuadoreans in a World Cup qualifier in Quito in 2004.

Dunga's squad includes a number of young players including four who are uncapped -- goalkeeper Helton, full backs Daniel Alves and Adriano Correia and midfielder Lucas.

Kaka, Ronaldinho, Lucio and Robinho are among the survivors from the World Cup.

KNEE OPERATION Ronaldo, still recovering from a minor knee operation, and Adriano are both excluded, while goalkeeper Dida has announced his international retirement.

The game is the second on a tour which began with a 4-0 win over a Kuwait Select team on Saturday.

Brazil have yet to start with both Ronaldinho and Kaka on the field under Dunga, and the coach would give little away over his starting line-up on arriving in Stockholm.

''I do not like to talk about individuals,'' he told reporters after a light training session.

''We have this tendency in Brazil to emphasize one player in particular. We need to have a group of 22 all motivated and well prepared. Then, during the game the individual can make a difference.

''All of them will have an opportunity and their chance to play in the right time.'' Ecuador have included 14 members of their World Cup squad, when they performed creditably by reaching the last 16 for the first time in their history.

The big surprise is the inclusion of striker Edmundo Zura, who plays for Imbabura in the Ecuadorean second division.

Striker Ivan Kaviedes, originally included, has pulled out of the trip through injury.

REUTERS PDS HT1710