Menezes Annouces Domestic Squad for Argentina Friendly

Mano Menezes has announced the Brazil squad for the friendly ("friendly") against Argentina, which will be played on September 14th. The seleção is comprised only of domestically-based players, meaning that there are no fewer than ten new faces on Mano's list. Among the players receiving a first call-up are Oscar, who excelled at the U20 World Cup, and São Paulo defender Rhodolfo, who has been the subject of plenty of transfer speculation in recent weeks.

Oscar nominated.

The full list is as follows;

Fábio (Cruzeiro)
Rafael (Santos)
Jefferson (Botafogo)

Danilo (Santos)
Mário Fernandes (Grêmio)
Kléber (Internacional)
Bruno Cortês (Botafogo)
Dedé (Vasco da Gama)
Réver (Atlético Mineiro)
Rhodolfo (São Paulo)
Henrique (Palmeiras)

Casemiro (São Paulo)
Paulinho (Corinthians)
Ralf (Corinthians)
Rômulo (Vasco da Gama)
Cícero (São Paulo)
Oscar (Internacional)
Lucas (São Paulo)
Renato Abreu (Flamengo)
Thiago Neves (Flamengo)

Leandro Damião (Internacional)
Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Flamengo)
Neymar (Santos)
Fred (Fluminense)

There are certainly a few surprises in the squad. 33-year-old Renato Abreu must have thought his chances of a Brazil call-up had passed him by, whilst Botafogo leftback Bruno Cortês was playing for regional side Nova Iguaçu six short months ago. Mário Fernandes, Réver and Rômulo can also count themselves rather lucky to be in the squad, in my view. The absence of players such as Elkeson (Botafogo), Willians and Léo Moura (both Flamengo), Borges and Arouca (both Santos) - all of whom have garnered plaudits for their club form in recent months - has also raised a few eyebrows. One aspect of the squad that seems beyond criticism, however, is the array of options in attack; Leandro Damião, Neymar, Ronaldinho and Fred represent exactly the exciting blend of youth and experience that Menezes has sought to instill in the Brazil side during his reign.

(Photo credit; Vipcomm.)