Brazil national football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari recalled two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho for next month’s friendly against England. Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar and Sao Paulo striker Luis Fabiano were also included in a 20-man squad for the Feb 6 fixture at London’s Wembley Stadium.
There was no place for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka or Internacional’s Tottenham Hotspur target Leandro Damiao, who was Brazil’s leading goalscorer at last year’s London Olympics.
Ronaldinho has not represented the Selecao since the team’s 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in February last year. His recall comes after several match-winning performances for Atletico Mineiro in Brazil’s top flight last year.
The squad is Scolari’s first since being appointed Brazil coach for a second time last month after the sacking of Mano Menezes. The 64-year-old, who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan during his first spell in charge, admitted he was looking forward to seeing 32-year-old Ronaldinho alongside Neymar, 12 years his junior.
There was no place for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka or Internacional’s Tottenham Hotspur target Leandro Damiao, who was Brazil’s leading goalscorer at last year’s London Olympics.
Ronaldinho has not represented the Selecao since the team’s 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in February last year. His recall comes after several match-winning performances for Atletico Mineiro in Brazil’s top flight last year.
The squad is Scolari’s first since being appointed Brazil coach for a second time last month after the sacking of Mano Menezes. The 64-year-old, who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan during his first spell in charge, admitted he was looking forward to seeing 32-year-old Ronaldinho alongside Neymar, 12 years his junior.