Seleção Coach Dunga Calls Up Players for Copa America

By Lisa Flueckiger, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The coach of the Brazilian national team, Carlos Dunga, has announced his squad for the upcoming Copa America, which will start on June 14th for Brazil. Robinho is back among the 23 players called up for the Southamerican championship, while Oscar will have to pass.

The squad for the Copa America doesn’t include big surprises, as it resembles those used in the recent friendly games. It includes experienced players such as David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Marcelo and Neymar, as well as those Brazilian players with a good run at their club such as Danilo, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.

Diego Tardelli and Everton Ribeiro have been included despite their recent moves to clubs in China and the UAE respectively, while lesser known Fabinho, Casemiro and Elias have also received a nomination.

Robinho, back playing in Brazil from stints at various clubs in Europe, had already been a star at the Copa America in 2007. However, in recent years the attacker had lost the confidence of the Seleção’s coaches and only regained it when scoring various times for current team Santos.

“Robinho, of course today is a more experienced player. He knows the role he has in the Seleção right now. He’s having a great moment at Santos, like he used to have,” Dunga told the press.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar is the only known name left out of the squad, due to an injury. “Oscar suffered an injury in the last training at Chelsea, we talked to Mourinho and the doctor at Chelsea and his recovery will be a a little longer. He will not be in top condition during the Copa America. We think it’s better if he’s prepared for the [World Cup] qualifiers,” the coach explained.

The full 23-men squad for the Copa America in Chile starting with the first game against Peru on June 14th is the following:

Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Diego Alves (Valencia) and Marcelo Grohe (Grêmio);
Center backs: David Luiz, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain) and Miranda (Atlético Madrid);
Fullbacks: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Filipe Luís (Chelsea), Danilo (Porto) and Fabinho (Monaco);
Wingers: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Elias (Corinthians) and Casemiro (Porto);
Midfielders: Everton Ribeiro (Al Ahli-EMI), Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk), Willian (Chelsea) and Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool);
Strikers: Neymar (Barcelona), Diego Tardelli (Shandong Luneng), Robinho (Santos) and Roberto Firmino (Hoffenheim).