Scolari overlooks host of stars for World Cup
AC Milan playmaker Kaka and Atletico Mineiro forward Ronaldinho were among the big names to miss out as Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari unveiled his 23-man World Cup squad today.
Liverpool midfielders Philipps Coutinho and Lucas Leiva, Sao Paulo’s on-loan Corinthians forward Alexandre Pato and Paris St Germain winger Lucas Moura were also overlooked, with Scolari keeping faith with most of the players who triumphed at last year’s Confederations Cup on home soil.
There was better news for six England-based players, though, with Chelsea quartet David Luiz, Oscar, Willian and Ramires, Manchester City’s Fernandinho and Tottenham’s Paulinho all called up.
The Selecao open their Group A campaign against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12, before further pool games against Mexico and Cameroon.
Brazil squad: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Gremio); Dani Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (Inter Milan), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Maxwell (Paris St Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli); Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Paulinho (Tottenham), Ramires (Chelsea), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Oscar (Chelsea), Willian (Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk); Fred (Fluminense), Neymar (Barcelona), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Jo (Atletico Mineiro).
