Pereira, Arthur named in Brazil squad for friendlies
Saturday - August 18, 2018 4:38 pm ,
Category : SPORTS
Pereira, Arthur named in Brazil squad for friendlies
Rio de Janeiro Aug 18 (IANS) Brazil coach Tite has included Manchester United s Andreas Pereira and Barcelona s Arthur Melo in a vastly changed squad for friendlies against the United States and El Salvador next month.
Flamengo playmaker Lucas Paqueta Fluminense striker Pedro Gremio winger Everton and Porto centre-back Felipe were among the other newcomers in Brazil s 24-man squad announced on Friday reports Xinhua news agency.
Teenage Flamengo goalkeeper Hugo Souza was also selected despite having never played for the Rio de Janeiro club s first team.
But there was no place for Manchester City trio Gabriel Jesus Fernandinho and Ederson while Real Madrid left-back Marcelo and Inter Milan centre-back Miranda were also left out.
Brazil face the United States in New Jersey on September 7 and El Salvador in Washington four days later.
The matches will be the team s first since their 1-2 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Belgium in Russia last month.
Pereira s selection comes just a week after he made his English Premier League (EPL) debut for Manchester United in a deep-lying midfield role.
The 22-year-old is also eligible to play for Belgium the country of his birth but has publicly stated a preference for Brazil where both his parents are from.
Tite said he plans to test as many young players as possible ahead of next year s Copa America in Brazil and the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifying tournament later in 2019.
"It s time to take a look at these players " he told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro. "The players who missed out have their importance but now we are taking the opportunity to observe a new generation."
Tite said Brazil s World Cup elimination left a "bad taste" and defended star forward Neymar who has been heavily criticised for apparent play-acting during the tournament.
"I m not here to judge or conceptualize behaviours " he said. "I m not going to give my opinion about what people say what the media reports. Neymar deserves praise for his behaviour for his discipline."
The 57-year-old reaffirmed his belief that Neymar is among the world s top three players and insisted that Brazil s No. 10 "has great potential to grow more."
Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool) Hugo (Flamengo) Neto (Valencia)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Juventus) Dede (Cruzeiro) Fabinho (Liverpool) Fagner (Corinthians) Felipe (Porto) Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid) Marquinhos (Paris St Germain) Thiago Silva (PSG)
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Manchester United) Arthur (Barcelona) Casemiro (Real Madrid) Fred (Manchester United) Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo) Phillipe Coutinho (Barcelona) Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan)
Forwards: Douglas Costa (Juventus) Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) Neymar (PSG) Pedro (Fluminense) Willian (Chelsea) Everton (Gremio).
--IANS tri/bg
Flamengo playmaker Lucas Paqueta Fluminense striker Pedro Gremio winger Everton and Porto centre-back Felipe were among the other newcomers in Brazil s 24-man squad announced on Friday reports Xinhua news agency.
Teenage Flamengo goalkeeper Hugo Souza was also selected despite having never played for the Rio de Janeiro club s first team.
But there was no place for Manchester City trio Gabriel Jesus Fernandinho and Ederson while Real Madrid left-back Marcelo and Inter Milan centre-back Miranda were also left out.
Brazil face the United States in New Jersey on September 7 and El Salvador in Washington four days later.
The matches will be the team s first since their 1-2 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Belgium in Russia last month.
Pereira s selection comes just a week after he made his English Premier League (EPL) debut for Manchester United in a deep-lying midfield role.
The 22-year-old is also eligible to play for Belgium the country of his birth but has publicly stated a preference for Brazil where both his parents are from.
Tite said he plans to test as many young players as possible ahead of next year s Copa America in Brazil and the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifying tournament later in 2019.
"It s time to take a look at these players " he told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro. "The players who missed out have their importance but now we are taking the opportunity to observe a new generation."
Tite said Brazil s World Cup elimination left a "bad taste" and defended star forward Neymar who has been heavily criticised for apparent play-acting during the tournament.
"I m not here to judge or conceptualize behaviours " he said. "I m not going to give my opinion about what people say what the media reports. Neymar deserves praise for his behaviour for his discipline."
The 57-year-old reaffirmed his belief that Neymar is among the world s top three players and insisted that Brazil s No. 10 "has great potential to grow more."
Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool) Hugo (Flamengo) Neto (Valencia)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Juventus) Dede (Cruzeiro) Fabinho (Liverpool) Fagner (Corinthians) Felipe (Porto) Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid) Marquinhos (Paris St Germain) Thiago Silva (PSG)
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Manchester United) Arthur (Barcelona) Casemiro (Real Madrid) Fred (Manchester United) Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo) Phillipe Coutinho (Barcelona) Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan)
Forwards: Douglas Costa (Juventus) Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) Neymar (PSG) Pedro (Fluminense) Willian (Chelsea) Everton (Gremio).
--IANS tri/bg
