The new Brazilian team that will play a friendly in Morocco

The CBF announced this Friday (3) the call-up of players for the Brazilian men's football team that will compete in the friendly against Morocco, on March 25th in Tangier. It will be the first commitment since being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. The interim coach, Ramon Menezes, called up 9 newcomers. Andrey Santos, João Gomes and Rony are some of the new additions to the list. Neymar was left out.

Posted by

Marcela Guimarães

March 4, 2023 09:50

The list presented by Ramon was full of new features, five South American under-20 champions with the coach: goalkeeper Mycael, full-back Arthur, defender Robert Renan, midfielder Andrey Santos and striker Vitor Roque.

Mycael has not yet made his professional debut (he plays for Athletico-PR). The other four new faces are midfielder André, midfielders João Gomes and Raphael Veiga and striker Rony.

The squad also includes 11 remaining players from the World Cup: goalkeepers Ederson and Weverton, full-back Alex Telles, defenders Eder Militão and Marquinhos, midfielder Casemiro, midfielder Lucas Paquetá and attackers Antony, Richarlison, Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior. Full-backs Emerson Royal and Renan Lodi and defender Ibañez, called up to the national team on other occasions, received another chance.

The average age of the list is 24 years old.

“Since I arrived from the South American Championship, we did an analysis, we raised 52 to 55 players. Everyone who went to the World Cup could be part of this list, but at this moment we prefer to provide opportunities for new athletes. These players have been showing very good performance at their clubs, competing in important championships and reaching the finals,” said Ramon, at a press conference.

Names that were in the World Cup were left out: goalkeeper Alisson, full-backs Daniel Alves, Danilo and Alex Sandro, defenders Thiago Silva and Bremer, midfielders Fred and Fabinho, midfielders Bruno Guimarães and Everton Ribeiro and forwards Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli, Pedro and Raphinha.

Star Neymar, according to Paris Saint-Germain (France), is recovering from a ligament injury to his right ankle.

“We seek a balance when putting together the list. The knowledge I have of the under-20 athletes gives opportunities to other athletes. There are eight of Olympic age [under-23]. We could have more. We are leaving out Martinelli, who is Olympic age. Life is all about choices. I think that, at the moment, we made the best choices to wear the national team shirt”, added the coach.