Scolari calls up Ronaldinho for England friendly

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) –

Brazilian national football team coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, delivers a press conference at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 22, 2013. Scolari handed a recall to Ronaldinho for next month’s friendly in England as he named his first squad since returning to the role for a second time.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Tuesday handed a recall to Ronaldinho for next month’s friendly in England as he named his first squad since returning to the role for a second time.

Scolari, who was reappointed in November having previously led Brazil to their fifth World Cup triumph in Japan and South Korea in 2002, has named a 20-man squad for the game against England at Wembley on February 6.

Ronaldinho, 32, is now playing his club football for Atletico Mineiro of Belo Horizonte.

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who had fallen out of favour under previous coach Mano Menezes, has also been recalled.

There are also three Chelsea players in the squad, with central defender David Luiz joining midfield duo Ramires and Oscar, but there is no place for Real Madrid’s Kaka.

Scolari is building towards next year’s World Cup, which Brazil will host, and he admits the Selecao have no option but to win the title on home soil.

Ronaldinho reacts at the Joao Havelange stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 12, 2012. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Tuesday handed a recall to Ronaldinho for next month’s friendly in England as he named his first squad since returning to the role for a second time.

“We are playing a second World Cup in Brazil and we have to assume that we have to win,” said Scolari, who also led Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 and the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“That is the pressure that they are putting on us. We will be playing at home. Brazil has gone for broke with this and we accept the challenge.”

Brazil lost to Uruguay in the deciding match of the 1950 World Cup, the only previous occasion the tournament has been staged in South America’s largest country.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Diego Alves (Valencia/ESP), Julio Cesar (QPR/ENG)

Defenders: Daniel Alves, Adriano (both Barcelona/ESP), Filipe Luis, Miranda (both Atletico Madrid/ESP), Dante (Bayern Munich/GER), David Luiz (Chelsea/ENG), Leandro Castan (Roma/ITA)

Midfielders: Arouca (Santos), Hernanes (Lazio/ITA), Paulinho (Corinthians), Ramires, Oscar (both Chelsea/ENG), Ronaldinho (Atletico Mineiro)

Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Lucas Moura (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Luis Fabiano (Sao Paulo), Fred (Fluminense), Hulk (Zenit Saint Petersburg/RUS)