Fifa World Cup: Brazil name star-studded squad for Qatar extravaganza

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli was included in a list dominated by 12 players from the English Premier League

By Reuters

Published: Mon 7 Nov 2022, 9:23 PM

Last updated: Mon 7 Nov 2022, 9:53 PM

Brazil have included 39-year-old defender Daniel Alves but left out Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino in their 26-man World Cup squad which was named by coach Tite on Monday.

After leaving Barcelona at the end of last season, Alves went to Mexico to try to keep his dream of playing in his fourth World Cup with five-times champions Brazil.

But he played his last game for Pumas in September and sustained a knee injury that has been troubling him since.

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Alves has been working on his recovery with the Barcelona academy medical and technical staff over the last few weeks.

"We have been following his recovery from up close and all the data that we have from Barcelona doctors show that he is fit to play," Brazil team physician Fabio Mahseredjian told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro.

According to Tite, Alves' long history with Brazil and leadership qualities in the changing room were valuable but not the main reason he got a spot in the squad.

"He adds technical and tactical aspects that are impressive, to be an organiser, an articulator," Tite said. "Sure he is not a 60 to 70 metres player anymore, but he has other virtues.

"The criteria awards his technical quality, but mental and physical aspects too."

PSG superstar Neymar will lead the Brazil attack in the final third.

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli is included among nine forwards in a list dominated by 12 players from England's Premier League.

The emergence of a new generation of attacking players like Martinelli, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Raphinha, Gabriel and Pedro has resulted in Firmino, 31, failing to make the squad.

Aston Villa attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho also did not make the list after sustaining a thigh injury in training over the weekend that will sideline him for several weeks.

Brazil will take four centre-backs - Juventus' Bremer, Paris St Germain's Marquinhos, Chelsea's Thiago Silva and Real Madrid's Eder Militao, while leaving out Roger Ibanez (AS Roma), Lucas Verissimo (Benfica) and Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal).

The Brazilian FA also announced that former PSG manager Ricardo Gomes will join Tite's staff as an assistant.

The squad and Tite will gather on Nov. 14 at Juventus' training facilities in Turin, where Brazil will hold a five-day training camp before flying to Doha on Nov. 19.

Brazil open their World Cup campaign in Qatar against Serbia on Nov. 24 and also face Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.

Brazil's 26-man squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Man. City), Weverton (Palmeiras). Defenders: Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid) Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Danilo (Juventus), Daniel Alves (Pumas), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla).

Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Man. United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Man. United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham).

Forwards: Antony (Man. United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar Jr (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).