Sports / Soccer |
Brazil rely on experimental squad for Copa defence(Reuters)Updated: 2007-06-07 10:34 RIO DE JANEIRO, June 6 - Holders Brazil will rely on former Santos team mates Diego and Robinho to inspire them to victory in the Copa America which starts this month. As expected, Kaka and Ronaldinho were rested while Ronaldo was overlooked when coach Dunga named his 22-man squad on Wednesday for the June 26-July 15 tournament in Venezuela. The squad, posted on the Brazilian federation's (CBF) Web site, was announced in Dortmund, Germany where Brazil drew 0-0 with Turkey in a friendly international on Tuesday night. Brazil drew 1-1 with England at Wembley in their first tour match on Friday when Diego headed an injury-time equaliser. Diego and Robinho were the teenage creative midfielders in the Santos team of 2003 that won the Brazilian championship and reached the Libertadores Cup final. There are only six players on duty from Brazil's 2006 World Cup squad, including veteran Santos midfielder Ze Roberto, who last played for his country in the quarter-final defeat by France in the tournament hosted by Germany. Brazil, who beat arch-rivals Argentina on penalties in the 2004 Copa final in Peru, make their Group B debut against Mexico on June 27. They also face Chile and Ecuador in the group stage. Squad: Goalkeepers: Doni (AS Roma), Helton (Porto) Defenders: Alex Silva (Sao Paulo), Alex (PSV Eindhoven), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Naldo (Werder Bremen), Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Kleber (Santos), Maicon (Inter Milan) Midfielders: Diego (Werder Bremen), Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk), Fernando (Girondins Bordeaux), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin), Josue (Sao Paulo), Ze Roberto (Santos) Forwards: Afonso (Heerenveen), Fred (Olympique Lyon), Robinho (Real Madrid), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow), Anderson (Porto).
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