Fred earns Brazil recall for friendlies
Reuters - Thursday 19 May 2011, 15:37
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil playmaker Kaka has
been overlooked for the Copa America while striker Fred earned
another shot at the tournament when he was named in coach Mano
Menezes's squad on Thursday.
Menezes, who also left out Ronaldinho, picked 28 players for
friendlies at home to Netherlands and Romania next month from
which he will draw his squad for the tournament being hosted by
Argentina in July.
"During the period of the Copa America, Kaka will still need
to do some activities related to his recovery so we concluded in
a recent chat with him that it was still not the time for a
call-up," Menezes told a news conference.
Kaka has made a disappointing comeback from knee surgery for
Real Madrid this year and not managed to reclaim a first team
place.
Menezes said the only player not in the squad to defend the
title that he would wait for until the last minute was Santos
playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso who has a thigh injury.
"We're following the player's recovery so we can decide at
the right moment. He is the only player not among these 28 who
can be called for the Copa America," Menezes said.
'NO REVENGE'
Former Olympique Lyon striker Fred, in consistently good
form since last season when he led Fluminense to the Brazilian
championship title, last played for Brazil in a friendly against
Chile in March 2007.
The 27-year-old was in Brazil's squad at the 2007 Copa
America in Venezuela but did not play after breaking a foot in
training.
Midfielder Thiago Neves, who helped Flamengo win the Carioca
(Rio) state championship on May 1, was also recalled for the
matches against Netherlands in Goiania on June 4 and Romania in
Sao Paulo three days later.
Brazil last met the Dutch in their 2010 World Cup
quarter-final when they were upset 2-1, while the Sao Paulo
friendly will double as former World Cup-winning striker
Ronaldo's farewell match.
"There is no climate of revenge," said Menezes, who
succeeded World Cup coach Dunga. "A victory won't erase the past
result and that's not what we want. We're looking to prepare for
what we have ahead.
"(In Sao Paulo) Ronaldo will come on midway through the
first half and the height of his party will be at the interval.
I'm very happy to be able to take part in that moment."
Goalkeepers: Victor (Gremio), Jefferson (Botafogo), Julio
Cesar (Inter Milan), Fabio (Cruzeiro).
Defenders: Lucio, Maicon (both Inter Milan), Thiago Silva
(AC Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Luisao (Benfica), Andre Santos
(Fenerbahce), Daniel Alves, Adriano (both Barcelona).
Midfielders: Lucas (Sao Paulo), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool),
Elano (Santos), Elias (Atletico Madrid), Henrique (Cruzeiro),
Jadson (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ramires (Chelsea), Sandro (Tottenham
Hotspur), Thiago Neves (Flamengo), Anderson (Manchester United).
Forwards: Alexandre Pato, Robinho (both AC Milan), Neymar
(Santos), Nilmar (Villarreal), Fred (Fluminense), Leandro Damiao
(Internacional).