Coach Dorival Júnior released this Friday (1) the squad list for the Brazilian team’s next matches in the Qualifiers. Neymar, still without playing rhythm, was left off the list, but the absence of Endrick, from Real Madrid, who was being called up, also drew attention. Among the news, the coach called Estêvão, from Palmeiras.
Another surprise was defender Murilo, formerly of Corinthians and currently at Nottingham Forest, in England. The commander said that the athlete has always been on his radar and highlighted that Brazil has a good range of options to form its defense. “We have never been so well served by defenders,” he said.
The Brazilian team will return to the field on the 14th, when they will face Venezuela, in Maturín, at 5 pm (Brasília time). Then, on the 19th, they face Uruguay, at 9:45 pm, at Fonte Nova, in Salvador.
Currently, the Canarian team is in fourth place in the Qualifiers, with 16 points, tied with Uruguay, three points behind Colombia, which is in second, and six behind Argentina, leader of the tournament.
As Brazil achieved two victories in the last rounds of the Qualifiers, against Chile and Peru, Dorival saw the pressure on his work lessen. This also reduced expectations for Neymar’s return to the national team, which was scheduled for 2025.
Recovered from an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, suffered a year ago, the player has played just one game for Al Hilal since his return to the field.
Therefore, even though he is fully recovered, it was decided between him and the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) technical committee that he still needs to get in shape to return to the national team.
“He has practically fully recovered, but he only had a few minutes, that was what weighed heavily. He was willing to be here. I would really like to be related, but he also understood the situation, the condition he is in, the little minute on the field and the charges that we would all make with him on the bench or on the field”, said Dorival.
The commander also spoke about the commitment of the number 10. “An athlete of his level has to have the pleasure of being here always, he has always shown this, and the importance of this is enormous. It was no different this time even though he was not 100%. I believe that we have to praise this stance he had. Physically it depends on a complement, God willing from now on there will be great progress”, he said.
After a year and two months of inactivity, Neymar returned to the pitch on the 21st, in the 5-4 victory over Al Ain in the Asian Champions League. The Brazilian entered in the 32nd minute of the second half and played around 27 minutes counting stoppage time.
Another who recently recovered from injury was Vinicius Junior. Absent in the team’s last two duels because of a cervical injury, the Real Madrid star is back in Dorival Junior’s team. The Spanish team also gave two more athletes to the team: Éder Militão and Rodrygo. The list could have been longer, but this time Endrick ended up being left out.
According to Dorival, as he also hasn’t had much space at Real, he ended up being passed over this time in the Canarian team. “Some important names were left out, like Endrick for example. Players are playing or not [em seus clubes]? We have to have a greater weight for those who are there”, said the coach.
See those called up
Goalkeepers: Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City) and Weverton (Palmeiras)
Sides: Danilo (Juventus), Vanderson (Monaco), Abner (Lyon) and Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG)
Defenders: Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG) and Murillo (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders: André (Wolverhampton), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham) and Raphinha (Barcelona)
Attackers: Estêvão (Palmeiras), Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Manchester City) and Vini Jr (Real Madrid)
