Brazil National Team Announces Preliminary Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Image credits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced a preliminary squad of 52 players for the national team's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. The squad, which will be trimmed down to 23 players next week, features a mix of experienced and young players, with some notable inclusions and exclusions. One of the most anticipated returns is that of Neymar, who has been out of action since October 2023 due to a knee injury. The star forward has been gaining match fitness since his return to Santos and is expected to be included in the final squad.
The preliminary squad includes 18 players from the Brazilian domestic league, with Flamengo being the most represented team with six players. The squad also features several players from top European leagues, including Alisson from Liverpool and Marquinhos from Paris Saint-Germain. The team will be led by coach Dorival Júnior, who will announce the final squad next week. The Brazilian national team is currently fifth in the qualifying standings, with 18 points from 12 matches, and will be looking to improve their position with wins against Colombia and Argentina.
In related news, Fluminense defender Thiago Silva has revealed that he received a phone call from Dorival Júnior, discussing his potential inclusion in the squad. Silva, who has 117 caps for Brazil, has been in good form since his return to Fluminense and could be a surprise inclusion in the final squad. Meanwhile, fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment at the exclusion of Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz, who has been in good form in the English Premier League. Muniz has scored eight goals in 29 games for Fulham this season and was expected to be included in the preliminary squad.
The Brazilian national team will face Colombia on March 20 and Argentina on March 25, with both matches being crucial in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The team will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the 2022 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals. With a strong squad and a experienced coach, Brazil will be hoping to make a deep run in the tournament and bring home their sixth World Cup title. Here are the match scores for Brazil's upcoming qualifiers:
- March 20: Brazil vs. Colombia
- March 25: Brazil vs. Argentina
- Colombia - 22 points
- Uruguay - 20 points
- Argentina - 20 points
- Ecuador - 19 points
- Brazil - 18 points
The final squad will be announced next week, and fans will be eagerly waiting to see which players will be included in the team. With a mix of experienced and young players, Brazil will be looking to make a strong impression in the qualifiers and set themselves up for a successful World Cup campaign. The team's performance will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike, and they will be hoping to make a deep run in the tournament.
qualifier brazil national thiago preliminary silva squad team cup world
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