Brazil recall Ronaldinho for Argentina friendly
Reuters - Friday 29 October 2010, 14:44
RIO DE JANEIRO - Ronaldinho was recalled
by Brazil for the first time in 18 months on Friday for their
friendly against Argentina in Qatar next month.
The gifted AC Milan forward, who helped Brazil win the World
Cup in 2002, was overlooked by former coach Dunga for this
year's finals in South Africa.
"He's in good form, he's a figurehead who will add value to
the Brazil team," coach Mano Menezes said when he named his
23-man squad to face arch-rivals Argentina in Doha on November 17.
"The Ronaldinho we want is the one we learnt to enjoy
watching," he told a news conference. Ronaldinho last played for
Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Peru in April 2009.
With the 30-year-old Ronaldinho's return, Menezes is looking
to reproduce the AC Milan attack by fielding him alongside club
mates Alexandre Pato and Robinho, one of the few survivors from
Dunga's squad.
"The build-up into attack is a sector where we need to
evolve... at Milan, he plays more in the middle, with three
players behind him and two in front. It's what I'm considering
for positioning in the national team." Menezes said.
Ronaldinho has a thigh injury and is set to miss Milan's
home game with Juventus on Saturday but he should return for
Wednesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid.
He has lost most of the pace he had at Barcelona and
struggles to beat defenders with his old trademark shimmy but he
can still produce a world-class pass.
NEYMAR RECALL
Menezes also recalled Neymar, who he dropped for friendlies
earlier in October for disciplinary reasons after the Santos
teenager had scored in a 2-0 win over the United States in an
impressive debut in August.
He said talks with the youngster, who behaved badly towards
opponents, team mates and the former Santos coach, were good and
he deserved to be in the squad on talent.
Brazil, hosts of the next World Cup in 2014, expect to face
an Argentina side with a stronger midfield than last year when
Dunga's team won a World Cup qualifier 3-1 in Rosario, Menezes
said.
"The Argentina we saw against Spain have a strong midfield
and get into the box in force. We won't do like Spain and expose
ourselves to counter-attacks," he said of the world champions'
4-1 defeat in Buenos Aires in a friendly in August.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Victor (Gremio), Jefferson (Botafogo), Neto
(Atletico-Paranaense)
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Andre Santos
(Fenerbahce), Rafael (Manchester United), Adriano Correia
(Barcelona), Alex Costa (Chelsea), David Luiz (Benfica), Rever
(Atletico-Mineiro), Thiago Silva (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Elias, Jucilei (both Corinthians), Douglas
(Gremio), Lucas (Liverpool), Philippe Coutinho (Inter Milan),
Ronaldinho (AC Milan), Ramires (Chelsea), Sandro (Tottenham
Hotspur)
Forwards: Alexandre Pato, Robinho (both AC Milan), Neymar
(Santos), Andre (Dynamo Kiev)