Brazilian boss Mano Menezes called up his second group of players this Friday morning in Rio de Janeiro. More new names such as youngster Phillipe Coutinho, who’s gets his first opportunity as a senior player, and Hulk, the Porto striker who had only one opportunity with Dunga.
Goalkeeper Gomes from Tottenham Hotspur comes back to the National Squad to join Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, Ramires and Robinho as the only 2010 World Cup returnees.
The full list of players called up by Mano Menezes goes as follow:
Goalkeepers: Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur) and Diego Alves (Almería)
Defenders: Alex (Chelsea), David Luiz (Benfica), Henrique (Racing Santander), Thiago Silva (Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Rafael (Manchester United), André Santos (Fenerbahce) and Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Hernanes (Lazio), Lucas (Liverpool), Ramires (Chelsea), Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur), Carlos Eduardo (Hoffenheim), Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk) and Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Forwards: Alexandre Pato (Milan), André (Dinamo Kiev), Hulk (Porto), Philippe Coutinho (Inter Milan) and Robinho (Manchester City)
Now the weird thing about this call up is that Brazil won’t be playing any friendly matches on the upcoming FIFA Official Match Dates in September. The reason is simple: lack of planning, lack of organization with a sprinkle of arrogance from the Brazilian Football Confederation (the infamous CBF).
Bulgaria, Cyprus (sigh), Paraguay, Chile and Spain (yes, Spain) were all available for a friendly in September but for mysterious reasons that will never be fully explained as usual, Brazil didn’t schedule matches with any of those. Argentina, by the way, will be the one playing a thriller match against the Spaniards.
So what is Brazil going to be doing? Nothing. I mean nothing that will give the team, the management, the fans a better idea of the players’ performances than watching them play for their clubs. Brazil will practice and then play two scrimmage games among themselves. It will be Brazil vs. Brazil.
Well, if that’s the case why not do it in home soil then? What’s the point in traveling to Barcelona? Why not do it in Rio de Janeiro and allow some fans to come watch the team working? Another mystery.
Maybe CBF thought that there would be a line at their door with other National Squads begging to play against Brazil. Wake up people! Brazil is not on top of the mountain anymore. And now that we won’t participate in the qualifying process we need as many good friendlies than ever.
And for all of us, fans of the Brazilian Football, what is left is to wait until November 17 when a Brazil vs. Argentina derby is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar. The match that I was hoping to see at the 2010 World Cup will finally happen. Too bad the circumstances are not the same but at least now we seem to have a more “Brazilian” squad in the built. Let’s wait and see.
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