Brazil welcomed back defensive midfielder Paulinho for Wednesday's Confederations Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte against South American champions Uruguay.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari brought back Corinthians star Paulinho, who had missed the group win over Italy with an ankle injury, in place of Hernanes of Lazio.
Brazil have not lost to Uruguay since Scolari's debut match in his first spell at the helm, in 2001, shortly before he turned his first squad into world champions.
But Brazil are always wary of a side who beat them in the 1950 World Cup final in Rio, a defeat etched in the country's footballing psyche.
Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez had changed his entire starting XI for the South American champions' final Group B 8-0 romp over minnows Tahiti but the first choices were back Wednesday as the Celeste manager sent out a fearsome forward line of Luiz Suarez, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani.
Teams
Brazil (4-3-3)
Julio Cesar; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva (capt), David Luiz, Marcelo; Oscar, Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho; Fred, Neymar, Hulk
Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Uruguay (4-3-3)
Fernando Muslera; Diego Lugano (capt), Diego Godin, Maxi Pereira, Martin Caceres; Alvaro Gonzalez, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Cristian Rodriguez; Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan.
Coach: Oscar Tabarez
Referee:
Enrique Osses (CHI)
Source: AFP
