Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho has been excluded from the Brazilian squad by national team coach Dunga. The Brazil squad for September’s Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour matches with Costa Rica and USA has been announced on Tuesday.
Philippe who scored a stunning goal in the dying moments of the game last Sunday to help his side Liverpool clinch a hard fought win over Stoke City in the opening match of the Premier League season. Coutinho is one of the most important players in the Liverpool squad now that Steven Gerrard has left the team. Irrespective of a stellar performance last weekend, Dunga has chose to overlook the midfielder. Coutinho was there in the Brazilian squad during the Copa America 2015.
Among the noteworthy inclusions into the squad, star midfielder Kaka has made a comeback to the Brazil squad. The last time Kaka represented Brazil was in October 2014 against Japan.
Chelsea’s Oscar, Real Madrid’s Danilo and Luis Gustavo are back in the squad after missing out on the Copa America due to injuries.
The five-time world champions are scheduled to meet Costa Rica at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on September 5.They next travel to the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough for a clash with USA on September 9.
The double-header will be Brazil’s final two fixtures before October which sees them kick off their World Cup qualification campaign against Chile and Venezuela.
The Brazilian squad:
Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Marcelo Grohe (Gremio), Alisson (Internacional).
Defenders: David Luiz (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter), Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Danilo (Real Madrid), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro).
Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Elias (Corinthians), Ramires (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Willian(Chelsea), Lucas Lima (Santos), Kaka (Orlando City).
Forwards: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Neymar (Barcelona), Lucas Moura (PSG), Hulk (Zenit), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich).