High-profile Brazil pair miss out

14 May 2013 21:17

Ronaldinho and Kaka have been excluded from Brazil's 23-man squad for next month's Confederations Cup.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari decided against selecting the two experienced playmakers, who between them have won three FIFA World Player of the Year awards, for the eight-team tournament which Brazil are hosting from June 15-30

Chelsea duo Oscar and David Luiz were included but there was no place for their club-mate Ramires, or Manchester United defender Rafael.

Among those named in the squad were goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who was part of the QPR squad relegated from the Barclays Premier League this season, plus star names such as Neymar, Hulk, Lucas Moura and Dani Alves.

Brazil have been drawn against Italy, Japan and Mexico in Group A of the Confederations Cup, with Spain, Uruguay, Tahiti and Nigeria in Group B.

Prior to the tournament, five-time world champions Brazil play home friendlies against England and France.

Brazil squad: Julio Cesar (QPR), Diego Cavalieri (Fluminense), Jefferson (Botafogo); Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain), Rever (Atletico Mineiro), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Jean (Fluminense), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid).

Fernando (Gremio), Hernanes (Lazio), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Paulinho (Corinthians) Jadson (Sao Paulo), Oscar (Chelsea), Lucas Moura (Paris St Germain); Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Bernard (Atletico Mineiro), Leandro Damiao (Internacional), Fred (Fluminense), Neymar (Santos).

Source: PA