The players will meet up on 26 May in Rio de Janeiro and play two friendlies against Panama and Serbia before opening their World Cup campaign against Croatia
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari announced his World Cup squad on Wednesday. The 23-name list includes 16 players who were in the team that won last year’s warm-up tournament by beating world champion Spain in the final, AP, Guardian reported .
The squad announcement was a high-profile event in Brazil, with television stations juggling their programing to broadcast it live. More than 700 journalists, many from abroad, were accredited for the event at a traditional concert house in Rio de Janeiro.
The players will meet up on 26 May in Rio de Janeiro and play two friendlies against Panama and Serbia before opening their World Cup campaign against Croatia in São Paulo on June 12. Brazil will also face Mexico and Cameroon in Group A.
Napoli defender Henrique was the only surprise inclusion in the squad, which will be aiming to win the title for a record sixth time. Henrique, who has played just 71 minutes at international level but worked under Scolari at Palmeiras, won out over Atlético Madrid’s in-form defender Miranda and PSG’s youngster Marquinhos for the spot as fourth central defender.
A host of big names including Kaká and Philippe Coutinho have been left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad, with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari opting for most of the players who won last year’s Confderations Cup on home soil.
Brazil is in Group A with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon. It will open against Croatia on June 12 in Sao Paulo.
Striker Alexandre Pato, Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas Moura, Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva and 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldinho were also among the absentees. A total of six Premier League players – Tottenham’s Paulinho, Manchester City’s Fernandinho and Chelsea quartet Oscar, David Luiz, Willian and Ramires are included in the squad.
The squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Júlio César (Toronto FC), Jéfferson (Botafogo), Victor (Grêmio).
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (Roma), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Maxwell (Paris Saint-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).
Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Paulinho (Tottenham), Ramires (Chelsea), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Oscar (Chelsea), Willian (Chelsea), Hernanes (Internazionale), Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Forwards: Fred (Fluminense), Neymar (Barcelona), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Jô (Atlético Mineiro).
Source: Dhaka Tribune
