David Luiz earns Brazil recall for June friendlies

Rio de Janeiro May 20 (IANS) Chelsea defender David Luiz has returned to Brazil s national squad for football friendlies against Argentina and Australia next month.

The 30-year-old has not represented the Selecao for more than a year but earned a recall after impressing coach Tite with his performances in Chelsea s English Premier League (EPL) title-winning campaign reports Xinhua news agency.

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus was also included in Brazil s 24-man squad having missed the team s World Cup qualifiers in March with a foot injury.

Barcelona star Neymar and Juventus right-back Daniel Alves were surprisingly left out having been given a break after hectic seasons with their respective clubs.

The emotional side of the game drains us ... the adrenaline is at a million miles per hour every single day the players need mental rest Tite said at a press conference.

There is team-building and there is consolidation but this is about construction at the moment.

Brazil will confront Argentina on June 9 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before facing Australia at the same venue four days later.

As expected China-based players Paulinho Renato Augusto and Gil were among those named by Tite. New faces included uncapped Monaco centre-back Jemerson and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson.

Brazil squad:

Goalkeepers: Diego Alves (Valencia) Weverton (Atletico-PR) Ederson (Benfica).

Defenders: David Luiz (Chelsea) Gil (Shandong Luneng) Jemerson (Monaco) Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo) Thiago Silva (PSG) Alex Sandro (Juventus) Fagner (Corinthians) Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid) Rafinha (Bayern).

Midfielders: Fernandinho (Manchester City) Giuliano (Zenit) Lucas Lima (Santos) Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande) Coutinho (Liverpool) Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan) Rodriginho (Corinthians) Willian (Chelsea).

Forwards: Diego Souza (Sport) Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich) Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) Taison (Shakhtar).

--IANS
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