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Friday 11 May 2012

Menezes Names Squad for Brazil Friendlies

Mano Menezes has named his squad for Brazil's upcoming series of friendly matches, which will see the seleção face Denmark (26 May), the USA (30 May), Mexico (3 June) and Argentina (9 June). With the Olympic tournament on the horizon, Menezes has picked 17 players under the age of 23, presumably to help prepare his squad for London 2012.

Wellington Nem is the biggest surprise on Mano's list.

The full squad is as follows:

Jefferson (Botafogo)
Neto (Fiorentina)
Rafael (Santos)

Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Danilo (Porto)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Alex Sandro (Porto)
Thiago Silva (Milan)
David Luiz (Chelsea)
Bruno Uvini (Tottenham Hotspur)
Juan (Internazionale)

Casemiro (São Paulo)
Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur)
Rômulo (Vasco da Gama)
Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos)
Oscar (Internacional)
Lucas (São Paulo)
Giuliano (Dnipro)

Alexandre Pato (Milan)
Hulk (Porto)
Leandro Damião (Internacional)
Neymar (Santos)
Wellington Nem (Fluminense)

Fluminense flyer Wellington Nem has been rewarded for his fine club form with a first call-up, whilst Giuliano returns to the international fray after a spell in the wilderness. Perhaps more significant is the selection of Hulk, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Daniel Alves, Marcelo and Jefferson, who will now be among the favourites for the three overage player spaces in the Olympic squad. The omission of Ronaldinho, who was tipped by many to go to London 2012, could signal that he no longer features in Menezes' plans for the summer.

(Photo credit: Photocamera.)

5 comments:

  1. Overall is a good selection. But why Pato?? Has he recovered from injury?? Is he playing superbly for AC Milan?? I believe there are plenty of players worth calling than him.

    I know this is a mostly U23 selection. But I think Mano will never call up Diego, Filipe Luiz and Fernando Reges no matter how great they play.

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  2. Agree about Pato. It's great that Mano wants to show him support, but it's getting a little silly now. Wellington Nem, Danilo and David Luiz also injured at the moment... but friendlies are a couple of weeks away yet.

    Would love to see Diego back in the fray, but he might have to bide his time. His Europa League final display won't have harmed his chances though!

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  3. I really don't think Nem is much of a surprise at all. Revelation of the championship last year. Huge in more than a few games in the Rio state championship this year. Already playing on highest level international competition he currently can (Libertadores) and showing up the majority of the time. I would nearly go as far to say that, behind Deco perhaps, Nem is the biggest midfield playmaker Fluminense has right now- and that's saying a lot if you look at the names they have at midfield... by the way I'm not referring to goals scored. That rapaz plays with heart and hunger. Bem merecido.

    There's no way Brazil will win at home in 2014 with Menezes as coach though... biggest weakness on the team truly is the coach in my opinion and that is a sad thing. I'll put money on it. I understand he's trying to develop the younger players to international level. I think that is good, I just question his tactics. He's got to go...

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  4. Why not Ramirez and Luis Gustavo. Those two players had a solid season. Luis Gustavo (and T. Kroos) destroyed my Madrid boys in the Champions League, while Ramirez has been the "game changer" for Chelsea and arguably their best player this year?

    How would you like to see Brasil play? By that I mean what are your ideal starting 11 for Brasil? And what do you guys think of the "Clasico" versus Argentina?

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  5. Anonymous - agree, Wellington New is a great choice, he's been excellent for the past 6-12 months. But it still surprised me, considering he hasn't played for Brazil since U17 level!

    Benjamin - Ramires will get his chance again. Remember this isn't a full squad by any means! Luiz Gustavo is another interesting one... called up a couple of times under Mano, but hopefully more to come.

    My XI would be: Jefferson; D.Alves, T.Silva, D.Luiz, Marcelo; Sandro, Hernanes; Ganso; Neymar, Damião, Hulk.

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