RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian coach Dunga announced the 23-member squad for first two 2018 World Cup qualifiers without Kaka and suspended Barcelona star Neymar.
Midfielder Kaka did not make the cut despite having been called up for Brazil’s September friendlies. Also left out in the cold was PSG’s defender Thiago Silva.
Dunga’s main missing element for the qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela is striker Neymar, who is still serving out a four-match ban for being red carded during this year’s Copa America.
In-form attacker Hulk, who scored in both the friendlies, makes the squad
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Marcelo Grohe (Gremio), Alisson (Internacional)
Defenders: David Luiz (Paris SG/FRA), Miranda (Inter Milan/ITA), Marquinhos (Paris SG/FRA), Gil (Corinthians), Fabinho (Monaco/FRA), Rafinha (Bayern Munich/GER), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP)
Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg/GER), Fernandinho (Manchester City/ENG), Elias (Corinthians), Renato Augusto (Corinthians), Lucas Lima (Santos), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/ENG), Oscar (Chelsea/ENG), Willian (Chelsea/ENG), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich/GER)
Forwards: Hulk (Zenit Saint-Petersburg/RUS), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/ENG), Lucas (Paris SG/FRA).
