Scolari selects Fernandinho for South Africa friendly
Scolari selects Fernandinho for South Africa friendly
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has selected Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho in his squad for the friendly against South Africa next month.
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Fernandinho joins players such as Neymar, Oscar, Ramires, Willian, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Hulk and Bayern Munich's Rafinha in the party for the match in Johannesburg.
However, there was no room for Kaka -- who has not represented his country since March -- or Robinho, who last played for Brazil towards the end of last year.
The squad has yet to be fully finalised, with Scolari opting to wait until closer to the fixture before choosing players from Brazilian clubs to allow them to reach top form and fitness. He said he expected to select three or four.
Among them could be Fluminese striker Fred, currently recovering from a niggling injury problem, who was one of Brazil’s star performers at the Confederations Cup last summer.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (QPR).
Defenders: David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Rafinha (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Paulinho (Tottenham), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Ramires (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea).
Strikers: Hulk (Zenit), Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Willian (Chelsea), Neymar (Barcelona).
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We can upset PSG – Hyypia
Bayer Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia believes his side can cause an upset against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.
Leverkusen host the big-spending Ligue 1 leaders on Tuesday in the first leg of their last-16 clash in Europe’s premier club competition.
Hyypia’s men sit second in the Bundesliga but are in poor form, having lost five of their last seven competitive matches – including a DFP-Pokal quarter-final exit against second-tier side Kaiserslautern.
The former Liverpool defender saw plenty of positive signs in Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Schalke though, and feels they could spring a surprise, despite admitting PSG were heavy favourites.
“PSG has invested a lot of money,” Hyypia said on Monday.
“They are favourites, we are outsiders. But I think we have a chance against them.
“If we play like (we did on) Saturday against Schalke, we can make life very difficult (for PSG). We had so many opportunities.”
With eight goals in five group stage matches, PSG’s star man is undoubtedly Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
But Hyypia knows the French champions have quality throughout their side.
“We should not focus only on ‘Ibra’,” he added.
“(But) he is an excellent player, one of the best in the world. Everyone talks about him.
“He can score amazing goals. You can have a perfect match in defence and not prevent him from scoring. But all their players are good.”
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