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| Brazil warm up for Ghana friendly |
3/9/2007 |
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Brazil have named a 22-man squad for their forthcoming friendlies against both Ghana and Chile.
AC Milan''s Ronaldo and Inter Milan''s injured striker Adriano are two noticeable absentees from the squad but Brazil coach Dunga has injected some fresh blood.
Sao Paulo duo Josue (midfielder) and Ilsinho (right-back), and Santos striker Kleber are in the running to take part in the match against Chile on 24 March and the Stockholm clash with Ghana three days later.
Ronaldinho, who has started only one match since the World Cup, was also included but Dunga, who retired in 1999 with Internacional, said he wanted him to revert to his pre-Barcelona style of play.
Internacional and Gremio are bitter rivals in the southern city of Porto Alegre and Dunga was given a torrid time by Ronaldinho, then a teenager, when they were on opposite sides in the derby.
"I would like to see Ronaldinho as he was with Gremio," Dunga said.
"I prefer him to float around and get lots of touches of the ball, rather than just staying on one side of the field, which is a characteristic he has acquired at Barcelona."
Dunga also brushed aside speculation that Ronaldinho was disillusioned at being left on the bench and was considering quitting Brazil.
"I don''t believe he doesn''t want to play for the national team," the coach added. "That''s not something I''m taking into consideration."
The squad included other regulars such as Kaka, Robinho, Diego, Elano and Gilberto Silva but there was no place for Inter Milan striker Adriano who has been picked only once by Dunga.
Likewise, recent performances from Ronaldo, who has made a promising start at AC Milan after his move from Real Madrid, failed to persuade Dunga to call up the 30-year-old for the first time since the World Cup.
"We are watching and observing him and as soon as his performances interest us and he is near to his best, he will be selected," the former Brazil captain explained.
Brazil have played six matches under Dunga, suffering their first defeat against Portugal last month.
They thrashed Chile 5-0 in their last meeting in a World Cup qualifier in September 2005 and beat Ghana 3-0 in the second round at last year''s World Cup.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Helton (Porto), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Ilsinho (Sao Paulo), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Kleber (Santos), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Alex Rodrigo (PSV Eindhoven), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Luisao (Benfica)
Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin), Dudu Cearense (CSKA Moscow), Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk), Josue (Sao Paulo), Diego (Werder Bremen), Kaka (AC Milan)
Forwards: Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Robinho (Real Madrid), Fred (Olympique Lyon), Rafael Sobis (Real Betis), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow)
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