GOIANIA, Brazil -- Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said Brazils victory over France in its last match before the Confederations Cup has put the team on the right track to win the World Cup warm-up tournament for the third time in a row. Without playing superbly, Brazil showed enough improvement on Sunday in its 3-0 win compared to past matches to end its official preparations for the Confederations Cup on a high note. "We needed this victory," Scolari said. "It gave us more confidence just at the right time." Brazil opens the Confederations Cup against Japan on Saturday in Brasilia, the nations capital. It will then face Mexico and Italy in the group stage. Brazil has won the tournament three times in total: in Saudi Arabia in 1997, in Germany in 2005 and in South Africa in 2009. "This victory is a good first step for us as we approach the Confederations Cup," the coach said. "It shows we have a competitive team which can contend for the title." Brazil had some disappointing results after Scolari returned to the national team in December. It had previouslt won only one match -- against Bolivia -- and drawn with Italy, Russia and Chile. The team also played England twice, losing 2-1 in London and drawing 2-2 at the revamped Maracana last week. Sundays result in the southern city of Porto Alegre ended Brazils 21-year winless run against France, and gave the "Selecao" its first victory over a former World Cup champion in nearly four years. "After this victory the players will feel more confident," Scolari said. "They know of their potential and now they know that this team can win." Chelsea playmaker Oscar and substitute midfielders Hernanes and Lucas scored Brazils goals at the Arena Gremio. "The players who got in finished what the others had started," Scolari said. "Its good to know that we have balance in the squad." The coach said the victory was also important to get the fans to support Brazil again following the series of poor results. The national team was loudly jeered recently at home and Scolari has been calling for the publics support, saying it will be crucial to play well. "Our fans reacted wonderfully in a difficult match against a good team like France," Scolari said. "We need this push from them." Local media also praised the national team. "Brazil wins and gains strength for the Confederations Cup," read an O Globo newspaper front-page headline on Monday. Scolari said having the team practicing together for a longer period played a role in the teams improvement. "We had seven days together and now we will have another week, which will certainly make a difference again," the coach said. Scolari said he will likely play the same 11 from the France match in the opener against Japan. Brazil hasnt won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. 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The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. FCS Playoffs First RoundThe Matchup -- Lehigh (9-2) at New Hampshire (7-4)Kickoff -- 2 p.m. ET Saturday at Wildcat Stadium (11,015) in Durham, New HampshireCoverage -- ESPN3Series -- New Hampshire leads 12-3Players to Watch -- Lehigh: QB Nick Shafnisky (182 of 275, 2,448 yards, 20 passing TDs, 10 rushing TDs), RB Dom Bragalone (1,106 yards, 13 TDs), WR Troy Pelletier (88 receptions, 1,140 yards, 11 TDs); New Hampshire: RB Dalton Crossan (1,255 yards from scrimmage, 9 TDs), FS/PR Casey DeAndrade (60 career passes defended), LB Ryan Farrell (50 tackles, 2 sacks)The Skinny -- This is a familiar matchup of traditionally strong programs, although their only playoff meeting was back in their Division II days in 1975 (New Hampshire won 35-21). Lehigh enters Saturdays game on a nine-game winning streak. The Mountain Hawks rank seventh in the FCS in offensive yards per game (491.5) behind two 1,000-yard passers (Shafnisky, the Patriot League offensive player of the year, and Brad Mayes), one 1,000-yard rusher (Bragalone) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Pelletier and Gatlin Casey). Their defensive leader is senior linebacker Colton Caslow, whos been first or second on the team in tacckles for four seasons.dddddddddddd. New Hampshire is appearing in the FCS playoffs for the 13th straight year -- the nations longest active streak -- and the CAA Football power is opening play against the Patriot League champion for the fourth straight postseason. The Wildcats hope to control the game clock and avoid turnovers. Starting quarterback Trevor Knight was injured against Maine last Saturday and senior co-captain Adam Riese shined off the bench. Senior tight end Jordan Powell (25 receptions) sat out the first half of the season because of a team suspension, but hes come back strong and is a veteran presence in an otherwise young receiving corps. In the secondary, safety Pop Lacey (leading tackler) and cornerback Prince Smith Jr. (CAA defensive rookie of the year) are freshmen.Up Next -- The winner plays at No. 4 seed James Madison (10-1) in the second round Dec. 3.Prediction -- UNH suffered a surprising home loss to Colgate to open last years playoffs. A loss to this years Patriot League champion wouldnt be surprising. Lehigh 30-27. Wholesale HoodiesNFL Shirts OutletJerseys NFL WholesaleCheap NFL Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale Jerseys CheapCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '