With six changes from the previous squad, Brazilian national team coach Tite has announced a list of 24 players for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela.
Flamengo goalkeeper Alex Muralha was the biggest surprise in Tite’s list, while Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva and Chelsea’s Oscar have returned to the squad. The five players who were in the group that faced Ecuador and Colombia earlier this month were dropped. They are Marcelo Gröhe, Pedro Geromel, Rafael Carioca, Taison and Gabigol. Tite has called up an extra player because Guangzhou Evergrande’s Paulinho is suspended for the fixture against Bolivia. Brazil will face Bolivia on October 6 at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, and then makes the trip to Mérida, where they face Venezuela on the 11th. After beating Ecuador and Colombia, the national team occupies second position in table with 15 points from eight rounds.
GOALKEEPERS:
Álisson – Roma
Alex Muralha – Flamengo
Wéverton – Atlético-PR
DEFENDERS:
Gil – Shandong Luneng
Marquinhos – PSG
Miranda – Inter Milan
Thiago Silva – PSG
WING-BACKS:
Daniel Alves – Juventus
Fágner – Corinthians
Filipe Luís – Atlético de Madrid
Marcelo – Real Madrid
MIDFIELDERS:
Casemiro – Real Madrid
Fernandinho – Manchester City
Giuliano – Zenit
Lucas Lima – Santos
Oscar – Chelsea
Paulinho – Guangzhou Evergrande
Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool
Renato Augusto – Beijing Guoan
Willian – Chelsea
ATTACKERS:
Douglas Costa – Bayern Munich
Roberto Firmino – Liverpool
Gabriel Jesus – Palmeiras
Neymar – Barcelona