Tite makes first call-up for final qualifiers

Football manager Tite made the first call-up of the Brazilian national team in 2022. The Brazilian team has two World Cup Qualifying games ahead: Ecuador, on January 27, at the Casa Blanca stadium, in Quito; and Paraguay, on February 1, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

In the list of 26 players, the absence of forward Neymar calls one’s attention. The Paris Saint-Germain (France) player is recovering from an ankle injury. Right-back Danilo, from Juventus (Italy), who recently started training again after a month and a half of treating a thigh injury, is also out. Comparing with the last call-up of 2021, another absence is the left-back Renan Lodi, from Atlético de Madrid (Spain).

"Renan Lodi could not be summoned because of the late vaccination [against COVID-19]. He lost the opportunity to compete. Renan could not enter Ecuador, as he took the first dose on January 10. We respect the laws of the country", explained Tite, in a press conference this Thursday (January 13).

Neymar, Danilo and Renan shall be replaced by full-backs Daniel Alves and Alex Telles - from Barcelona (Spain) and Manchester United (England), and forward Rodrygo, from Real Madrid (Spain). Besides them, goalkeeper Weverton (Palmeiras, Brazil) and midfielder Bruno Guimarães, from Lyon (France) were called up again.

"We have about 46 athletes. Bruno Guimarães is one of them. We’ve checked his athletic condition. He started very well at Lyon, then he had a decline period, which is normal during an adaptation process. And now, he understands better the team and the country. And Telles is doing as well as Bruno. There is competition in the sector", said assistant Cesar Sampaio in a press conference.

Brazil is already qualified for the World Cup this year, in Qatar, but still has five qualifying matches, during the FIFA dates - periods in which games between teams take place. For now, there are no scheduled duels against teams from other continents - especially European ones - on the way to the Cup. Manager Tite sees Brazil among the favorites for the title.

“I consider that Brazil, France, England, Belgium, Germany, Argentina, Italy and Spain are among the candidates. I don’t see any of them standing out. It's precisely because we don't play against Europeans that you can't say if they’re favorite or not, because there are no parameters of comparison. I would like us to play against them, but the schedule doesn’t match", said the coach.

List of summoned players:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool - ENG), Ederson (Manchester City - ENG) and Weverton (Palmeiras, BR);

Fullbacks: Daniel Alves (Barcelona - ES), Emerson (Tottenham - ENG), Alex Sandro (Juventus - IT) and Alex Telles (Manchester United - ENG);

Defenders: Éder Militão (Real Madrid - ES), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal - ENG), Marquinhos (PSG - FRA) and Thiago Silva (Chelsea - ENG);

Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (Lyon - FRA), Casemiro (Real Madrid - ES), Fabinho (Liverpool - ENG), Fred (Manchester United - ENG), Gerson (Olympique de Marseille - FRA), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo, BR), Lucas Paquetá (Lyon - FRA) and Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa - ENG);

Forwards: Antony (Ajax - NL), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid - ES), Rodrygo (Real Madrid - ES), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City - ENG), Matheus Cunha (Atlético de Madrid - ES), Raphinha (Leeds United - ENG), and Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo, BR)

Fabinho and Lucas Paquetá have been suspended from the game against Ecuador.