Ronaldinho again in Brazil squad for friendlies

Ronaldinho again in Brazil squad for friendlies

Published Sep. 22, 2011 4:30 p.m. ET

Brazil coach Mano Menezes has kept Ronaldinho in the squad for three upcoming friendlies, while leaving young sensation Leandro Damiao and Alexandre Pato out because of injuries.

Neymar is also in the squad for the game against Argentina on Wednesday in the second leg of the Superclassic of the Americas series, and the friendly matches against Costa Rica on Oct. 7 and Mexico on Oct. 11.

Menezes announced a separate list for the match against Argentina - only with players from local clubs - and another for the other two friendlies, including players from abroad.

Ronaldinho returned to the national team in August for the first time in nearly a year after some good performances with Flamengo. The popular Brazilian club has been struggling recently, winless in 10 matches, but Ronaldinho is keeping his spot with Brazil.

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Kaka remained out of the squad as Menezes waits for him to improve his form with Real Madrid, while former captain Lucio and Robinho did not make the list. Lazio midfielder Hernanes, Manchester United defender Fabio and FC Porto striker Hulk were summoned, while injured Santos playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso remained out.

Brazil and Argentina drew 0-0 last week in Cordoba in the first Superclassic, meaning the winner of the return leg in the northern Brazilian city of Belem will capture the trophy. The South American rivals will play twice in each of the next several years in the Superclassic of the Americas, when both teams only use players from local clubs.

''It will be important to win it, it's a rivalry,'' Menezes said. ''Playing at home, we will have to impose our match from the start.''

If drawn, the match will go to penalties.

Damiao, who played well last week against Argentina, sustained a right-leg muscle injury just 25 minutes into Internacional's 1-1 draw against Figueirense in the Brazilian league on Wednesday. He is expected to be sidelined until late October.

Pato got hurt in AC Milan's Serie A match, also Wednesday.

''It's a big loss because we had been using these players a lot recently,'' Menezes said. ''We will have to try to find solutions. At least it allows us to start observing other players.''

Neymar's Santos teammate Borges, the Brazilian league's leading scorer with 18 goals, was called up for the match against Argentina.

Menezes is under pressure as Brazil coach after disappointing results since he took over the squad after the 2010 World Cup. The five-time world champions were successful in friendlies against teams such as the United States, Ukraine, Romania and Scotland, but failed to beat Argentina, France and the Netherlands.

Brazil, only seventh in FIFA's world rankings, also struggled in the Copa America in Argentina in July, losing to Paraguay in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals. Brazil was third in the FIFA rankings when Menezes became the coach.

As host, Brazil won't have to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. It will be hosting the competition for the first time since 1950.

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Squad for match against Argentina:

Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Rafael (Santos).

Defenders: Danilo (Santos), Mario Fernandes (Gremio), Bruno Cortes (Botafogo), Kleber (Internacional), Dede (Vasco da Gama), Rever (Atletico Mineiro), Rhodolfo (Sao Paulo), Emerson (Coritiba).

Midfielders: Ralf (Corinthians), Paulinho (Corinthians), Casemiro (Sao Paulo), Romulo (Vasco da Gama), Lucas (Sao Paulo), Oscar (Internacional), Diego Souza (Vasco da Gama), Elkeson (Botafogo).

Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Borges (Santos), Fred (Fluminense), Ronaldinho (Flamengo).

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Squad for friendlies against Costa Rica and Mexico:

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Jefferson (Botafogo), Neto (Fiorentina).

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Fabio (Manchester United) Marcelo (Real Madrid), Adriano (Barcelona), Rever (Atletico Mineiro), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dede (Vasco da Gama).

Midfielders: Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Fernandinho (Shaktar Donetsk), Sandro (Tottenham), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Lucas (Sao Paulo), Elias (Sporting), Oscar (Internacional), Hernanes (Lazio).

Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Kleber (FC Porto), Hulk (FC Porto), Jonas (Valencia), Fred (Fluminense), Ronaldinho (Flamengo).

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