Rio de Janeiro: Brazil manager Tite has named uncapped central defenders Gleison Bremer and Roger Ibanez in his squad for friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia later this month.
Bremer has been in impressive form for Juventus since his July move from Torino while Ibanez has flourished at Roma under the guidance of manager Jose Mourinho.
“They’ve been schooled the Italian way under (Juventus manager Massimiliano) Allegri and Mourinho,” Tite told a news conference on Friday, reports Xinhua. “Both coaches are very demanding defensively.”
As expected, Tite also included Paris Saint-Germain pair Neymar and Marquinhos as well as Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao in his 26-man squad.
But there was no place for Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli or Gabriel Magalhaes. Also absent were Aston Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho and veteran Pumas UNAM right-back Dani Alves.
Brazil will meet Ghana on September 23 in Le Havre, France, and Tunisia in Paris three days later. The fixtures will be Tite’s last chance to test his players before the World Cup in Qatar, which begins on November 20.
The five-time world champions have been drawn in Group G with Cameroon, Serbia and Switzerland.
Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras).
Defenders: Bremer, Alex Sandro, Danilo (all Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Roger Ibanez (AS Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Alex Telles (Sevilla).
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro, Fred (both Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United).
Forwards: Antony (Manchester United), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Matheus Cunha (Atletico Madrid), Neymar (Paris Saint Germain), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. (both Real Madrid).
–IANS
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