Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on
Wednesday unveiled the 23 men he trusts can deliver a sixth FIFA World
Cup™ ahead of this year's event starting 12 June on home soil.
Having already led the most
successful nation in the tournament's history to their fifth title at
Korea/Japan 2002, Scolari is now out to lay the ghosts of 1950, when A Seleção lost the trophy match to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro.
His
list contained no major surprises, although AC Milan forward Robinho
missed the cut along with former FIFA Ballon d'Or winners Ronaldinho and
Kaka, an echo of his decision to dump Romario more than a decade ago.
Robinho missed the cut despite facing Chile in a recent friendly. With
Scolari having said for months he knew in his own mind who he wanted to
pick, save for one or two exceptions, the focus was on who would provide
back-up for a first XI who saw off world champions Spain in last year's
FIFA Confederations Cup warm-up.
For the defensive second string,
Paris Saint-Germain's Maxwell edged out Atletico Madrid's Filipe Luis,
while veteran defender Maicon won out at the expense of Bayern Munich's
Rafinha, even though the latter had played in a March friendly romp
against South Africa. Henrique of Napoli, fresh from lifting the Coppa
Italia, also claimed a spot in the middle, and Scolari completed his
contingent with Manchester City's Fernandinho and Inter Milan's
Hernanes.
Scolari had already named as his four
captains defensive linchpins Tiago Silva and David Luiz, veteran
striker Fred of Fluminense and goalkeeper Julio Cesar, despite Cesar now
playing in Major League Soccer with Toronto FC. In 2002, Scolari
preferred a 3-4-3 line up with Ronaldo at its apex. But now he and
technical coordinator Carlos Alberto Parreira will likely base their
hopes on a 4-2-3-1 permutation with the idea that star man Neymar of
Barcelona can enjoy a free role.
Just four of the players are with
Brazilian clubs - reserve keepers Jefferson and Victor and strikers Fred
and Jo, the latter who had brief spells in England with Manchester City
and Everton. Scolari could have named 30 players before later trimming
them back by 2 June. But the Brazilian Football Confederation had
indicated ahead of Wednesday he was happy to name his final squad now in
readiness for group games against Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon.
Scolari will now welcome his
selection at the end of May to the refurbished Granja Comary training
complex outside the rural town of Teresopolis. He will then oversee a 3
June friendly against Panama at Goiana and a final warm-up against
Serbia three days later at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo before the
Cup starts at the Corinthians Arena on 12 July.
Brazil squad
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC/CAN), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro)
Defenders: Dante
(Bayern Munich/GER), David Luiz (Chelsea/ENG), Henrique (Napoli/ITA),
Thiago Silva (PSG), Daniel Alves (Barcelona/ESP), Maicon (Roma/ITA),
Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP), Maxwell (Paris St Germain/FRA)
Midfielders: Fernandinho
(Manchester City/ENG), Hernanes (Inter Milan/ITA), Luiz Gustavo
(Wolfsburg/GER), Oscar (Chelsea/ENG), Paulinho (Tottenham/ENG), Ramires
(Chelsea/ENG), Willian (Chelsea/ENG)
Forwards: Bernard
(Shakhtar Donetsk/UKR), Fred (Fluminense), Hulk (Zenit
Saint-Petersburg/RUS), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Neymar (Barcelona/ESP)
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