The maths is simple. Mano called up 27 players, but is still considering Ganso, and the Copa America only allows 22 players to be selected. Put simply , from the group that trains today in Goiania, six will be sent home and will not travel to Argentina.
This makes things somewhat more complicated, especially for Fred. He is in a group of five attackers, and the great likelihood is that only four will go to the Copa America. He scoring a goal in the World Cup in 2006 against Australia, and was also present at the Copa America in Venezuela in 2007. The same year he enjoyed his most successful season in France, but Lyon did not imagine that Fred, four years later, would be the dark horse among the five attackers.
Unless he show sotherwise, he is the most likely to be cut at the end of friendlies. Among the competitors, Robinho seem Neymar are almost certain and should go to the competition. That leaves two spots for Fred, Nilmar of Villarreal and Leandro Damiao, of Internacional, with his two adversaries seeming to be in better form than Fred.
The fact is that Fred must play some part in the friendlies, and will have to impress in training and any kind of involvement. “I’ll try to make the most of this moment. Despite being one of the older and more experienced players in the group, I am a beginner with Mano” he says.
Fred’s chances increased considerably due to an injury to AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato, who would most likely have made the trip if he had been fit.
