Palmeiras striker Dudu replaces Costa in Brazil squad

Rio de Janeiro March 18 (IANS) Palmeiras forward Dudu has been drafted into Brazil s football squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay the Brazilian football confederation CBF announced on Saturday.

The 25-year-old who has been capped three times for Brazil replaces injured Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa who was ruled out with a knee injury the CBF said in a statement reports Xinhua news agency.

Dudu was a key part of the Palmeiras side that won last year s Brazilian Serie A championship. In January he scored the only goal in Brazil s victory over Colombia in an unofficial friendly that raised money for families of victims of the Chapecoense air crash.

Brazil currently lead the South American zone qualifying standings for the 2018 World Cup and will secure a berth at the tournament in Russia if they beat Uruguay in Montevideo on Thursday.

The five-time World Cup winners will also meet Paraguay at Sao Paulo s Arena Corinthians on March 28.

--IANS
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