Young squad

Brazil takes Dudu, 10 other new faces to Confed Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- World champions Brazil, hit by club commitments, injuries and the need to rest the likes of Ronaldo and Rivaldo, on Tuesday named 11 uncapped players in their squad for this month's Confederations Cup.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he had gone through enormous difficulties putting together a squad for the controversial competition being hosted by France in the second half of June.

The same squad will travel to Nigeria for a friendly against the Super Eagles in Abuja on June 11, minus Flamengo goalkeeper Julio Cesar and Cruzeiro defenders Maurinho and Edu Dracena and midfielder Alex who are all involved in the Copa Brasil final.

Parreira completed his squad on Tuesday as he named the home-based players, having chosen members of the foreign legion the week before.

The newcomers were goalkeepers Fabio (Vasco da Gama) and Julio Cesar (Flamengo), defenders Maurinho (Cruzeiro), Fabio Luciano (Corinthians) and Edu Dracena (Cruzeiro), midfielders Dudu Cearense (Vitoria) and Adriano (Atletico Paranaense) and strikers Luis Fabiano (Sao Paulo), Gil (Corinthians) and Ilan (Atletico Paranaense) plus Fabio Aurelio of Spanish club Valencia.

"We knew before that it would be very difficult to put together this team in the face of all these restrictions," said Parreira. "Injuries got in the way as well and other players needed a rest."

Full swing

The Confederations Cup will be played at a time when the Brazilian championship is in full swing and also coincides with the finals of the Libertadores Cup, the South American equivalent of Europe's Champions League.

As a result, Parreira decided not to pick any players from Brazilian champions Santos, who have reached the Libertadores semi-finals.

He also decided not to pick any more than two players from any given Brazilian club, although he made exceptions in the cases of Atletico Paranaense and Cruzeiro after consulting both teams.

Last week, Parreira said he would also rest players such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Gilberto Silva and Roberto Carlos to give them time to recharge their batteries for the South American World Cup qualifiers, which start in September.

But the coach, who is still looking for the first victory of his third stint in the job after draws with China and Mexico and a defeat by Portugal, refused to be downhearted.

"This team may lack experience but it's technically strong," he said. "We're not going just to fulfil the fixture list."

"The Confederations Cup will be an excellent chance for young players to show what they can do and fight for a place in the team," he said.

He added that the fixture in Nigeria would be tricky due to a lack of practice time.

"It's complicated. We arrive one day early to play one of the best teams in world football," he said.

"The Africans are no longer naive. Most play in Europe, they have good tactical application, they are good teams and they will give us a lot of work."

Goalkeepers - Dida (AC Milan), Fabio (Vasco da Gama), Julio Cesar (Flamengo)

Defenders - Maurinho (Cruzeiro), Belletti (Villarreal), Kleber (Corinthians), Fabio Aurelio (Valencia), Edu Dracena (Cruzeiro), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen), Fabio Luciano (Corinthians)

Midfielders - Eduardo Costa (Girondins Bordeaux), Emerson (Roma), Kleberson (Atletico Paranaense), Dudu Cearense (Vitoria), Ricardinho (Sao Paulo), Adriano (Atletico Paranaense), Alex (Cruzeiro), Ronaldinho (Paris St Germain)

Forwards - Adriano (Parma), Luis Fabiano (Sao Paulo), Gil (Corinthians), Ilan (Atletico Paranaense)

 

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