SPORT action ● excitement ● score No Ronaldinho for South Africa Spain’s star striker a ao Paulo - Brazil will be with- high-profile friendlies against Argen- and Paulo Henrique Ganso, who have out some of its top stars at tina, Italy, England and Portugal. been among the hottest players in doubt for World Cup the World Cup, with coach “These players are winners,” Dun- Brazilian football this year. Dunga betting on players ga said. “There is no doubt that they The 18-year-old striker Neymar Sthat are not too well known but who are prepared to help Brazil reach its has dazzled fans with his speed and achieved successful results with the goal. They are ready to give their best ball skills, being called by many as the team. for the country.” new Robinho. The 20-year-old Gan- Ronaldinho, Adriano and Neymar One of the biggest surprises was so, or Goose in Portuguese, attracted have been left out of Brazil’s prelimi- the absence of Adriano, who had attention for his maturity and ability nary World Cup squad, announced been constantly called up by Dunga. as a playmaker. Along with Robinho, earlier in the week, along with three- But there had been doubts because they scored more than 100 goals in time FIFA world player of the year of recent off-the-field problems that 30 matches this year for Santos. Ronaldo and veteran left back Ro- caused him to miss several training “Some players are extremely tal- berto Carlos. sessions with Flamengo. ented, but we have to test them be- Kaka, Robinho, Maicon and Julio “We gave Adriano numerous fore taking them to a World Cup,” Cesar were picked in the squad, but chances,” Dunga said. “But it came Dunga said. “Maybe they are ready to the list also has players such as Elano, to a time when we had to make a play in a World Cup now but maybe Julio Baptista, Ramires, Josue, Nilmar decision.” Wolfsburg’s Grafite was they are not.” and Gilberto - who are lesser-known called up to take Adriano’s place. None have been called up to the but have been regulars since Dunga Ronaldinho, a two-time FIFA senior team so far. took over the team. world player of the year, hadn’t been Dunga’s list was basically the same “I was asked to revamp the na- called up for the national team since as the one for Brazil’s latest friendly tional team after the 2006 World April 2009 but had been playing against Ireland in March, with the Cup,” Dunga said. “We closed a cy- reasonably well this season with AC exception of goalkeeper Heurelho cle of players in the national team, Milan and many wanted him to be Gomes, who was replaced by Victor bringing players with attitude, com- included in the squad. at the time. Only three players are mitment and passion for the national “Ronaldinho’s quality and capac- currently in Brazilian football - Kle- team.” ity as a player is indisputable,” Dunga berson, Gilberto and Robinho, who is Dunga is sticking to most of the said. “But my decision has to be made on loan from Manchester City. players who helped Brazil win last based on reason. I have to make a “Those who took advantage of year’s Confederations Cup and fin- decision based on what happens on their chance have made the team,” ish top of South American World the field.” Dunga said. Cup qualifying. His players also won Brazilian fans and local media had Brazil will practice for about a the bronze medal at the 2008 Bei- also been pushing for Dunga to pick week in the southern Brazilian city of jing Olympics, and earned victories in Santos’ young sensations Neymar Curitiba before heading to South Af- rica on May 26. The five-time world champions will play against North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal in Group G. Fernando Torres Brazil squad: Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Mi- lan), Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham), Madrid - Spain striker Fernando Tor- “He has started to work outside Doni (AS Roma). res is working six hours a day in a bid and is still doing gym work to im- Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), to recover from knee surgery and be prove the muscle tone around the Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bas- fit enough to line up for his country’s operated knee. tos (Lyon), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Lucio opening match at the Soccer World “He will be here (in Vigo, north- (Inter Milan), Juan (AS Roma), Luisao Cup finals. west Spain) until the squad meet up (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan). The Liverpool forward had an op- for the World Cup finals.” Midfielders: Elano (Galatasaray), eration on his right knee last month, Torres, who scored Spain’s winner Kaka (Real Madrid), Gilberto Silva and after a medical check up with the against Germany in the Euro 2008 (Panathinaikos), Josue (Wolfsburg), national team earlier in the week was final, forms half of a lethal attack- Ramires (Benfica), Felipe Melo (Ju- included in Spain coach Vicente del ing partnership with Valencia’s David ventus), Kleberson (Flamengo), Julio Bosque’s preliminary 30-man squad. Villa. Baptista (AS Roma). “At the moment, we cannot say if Spain kickoff against Switzerland Forwards: Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Fernando will be ready in time for the in Durban on June 16 and go on Nilmar (Villarreal), Robinho (Santos), first game of the finals, but we are to play Honduras and then Chile in Grafite (Wolfsburg). optimistic,” Spain doctor Juan Jose Group H. 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