Kaka recalled after two years

Former World Player of the Year Kaka is set to play his first match for Brazil for more than two years after being recalled for next month’s friendlies.The Real Madrid player, plagued by injuries over the last few seasons, was included in the squad for the games against Iraq in Sweden on 11 October and Japan in Poland five days later. He has not played for his country since the 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands at 2010 World Cup quarterfinal.

It was the second time he has been called up under the leadership of coach Mano Menezes, who replaced Dunga following the tournament in South Africa. However, on the previous occasion last year, Kaka subsequently had to drop out with injury and missed the matches against Gabon and Egypt.

The 30-year-old, who made his debut for Brazil in 2002, has won 82 caps and played at the last three World Cups. There was still no place in the squad for Lazio midfielder Hernanes, who is considered one of the most creative midfielders in Serie A.

Menezes is rebuilding the team for the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil will host, and is trying to move them away from their counter-attacking style which they developed under Dunga. Despite 12 wins in their last 14 matches, Menezes has been cricitised for Brazil’s performances amid speculation that former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup victory in 2002, could be recalled closer to the tournament.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi heads a squad of 18 players named by Argentina for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Chile. Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella named an entirely foreign-based squad, which is expected to be supplemented with local players prior to the matches. Argentina host Uruguay on 12 October and is away at Chile on 16 October. Strong title contenders Argentina lead the South American qualifying group with 14 points. 

Siena beat Bologna 1-0 to move off the bottom of the Italian Serie A football table. Siena kicked off the new season with a six-point penalty, meted out for their involvement in match-fixing, but with the victory over Bologna, Serse Cosmi’s men leapfrogged Palermo and Cagliari into 18th place. With two points on the board, Siena are now only three places shy of Rossoblu, who have lost three of their first five games.

Siena took the lead without ever really testing the Bologna goalkeeper, as Calaio shot a long ranger  from outside the box that took a massive deflection off Mikael Antonsson’s toe to leave Federico Agliardi stranded. Agliardi made his first real save after 87 minutes on Andrea Sestu’s rising drive.