Brazil Name Copa America Squad, Kaka And Oscar Out

Santos starlet Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa and Liverpool’s Coutinho were among those named in Brazil coach Dunga’s final 23-man squad for June’s Copa America Centenario.

Orlando City’s Kaka, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, PSG’s Lucas Moura and Cheslea’s Oscar were were among 17 players to be cut from the preliminary 40-man squad announced last week.

The others were Marcelo Grohe, Fagner, Alex Sandro, Jemerson, Gabriel Paulista, Wallace, Fernandinho, Ganso, Felipe Anderson, Luan, Jonas, Alex Teixeira and Gabriel Jesus.

Captain Neymar will be absent after an agreement was reached with Barcelona that will see the forward play the Rio Olympic games instead.

Inter defender Miranda and Chelsea midfielder Willian, Dunga’s first choices for his remaining two overage slots at the games, were named in the final 23 which appears to have ruled them out of the Olympics.

Real Madrid’s Casemiro returns to the squad following an impressive season with Spanish giants, as does Barcelona’s Rafinha who had been missing since suffering a serious knee injury in September.

Elias of Corinthians, Dunga’s most-capped midfielder after Willian, also returns after overcoming injury problems.

Any late replacements to the squad must be selected from the remaining 17 from Dunga’s preliminary squad.

Brazil have been drawn in Group B of the centenary version of the competition, set to be played in USA, alongside Ecuador, Haiti and Peru.

The Copa America Centenario has been organized to celebrate 100-years of the South American football championships. It will be played outside of the continent for the first time and feature six teams from North American Confederation CONCACAF

Brazil’s Copa America Centenario squad

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Internacional), Diego Alves (Valencia), Ederson (Benfica)

Defenders: Miranda (Inter), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Fabinho (Monaco), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro)

Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Elias (Corinthians), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Coutinho (Liverpool), Lucas Lima (Santos), Willian (Chelsea), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Rafinha (Barcelona)

Forwards: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Hulk (Zenit), Gabigol (Santos), Ricardo Oliveira (Santos)

Goal

Brazil Name Copa America Squad, Kaka And Oscar Out

David Luiz and Thiago Silva Out Of Brazil Copa América Squad

Brazil Coach Dunga has announced a preliminary squad for the Copa América with the Paris Saint-Germain duo of David Luiz and Thiago Silva being left out.

The good performances of Paulo Henrique Ganso in recent games for São Paulo seems to have convinced Dunga to include him.

In the preliminary list of 40 players released for the Copa América Centenário, the coach included the number 10 of São Paulo, who’s been absent from the national team since 2012.

Other new names on the list by Dunga are Fágner [Corinthians], Rodrigo Caio [São Paulo], Casemiro [Real Madrid] and Walace [Grêmio].

The squad also includes Gabigol, Gabriel Jesus and Grêmio attacker Luan. As expected, Neymar was left out, as Barcelona would only release the player for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The final list of 23 players for the tournament will be released on Thursday.

Goalkeepers: Álisson (Inter), Diego Alves (Valencia), Marcelo Gröhe (Grêmio) and Éderson (Benfica).

Full-backs: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Fagner (Corinthians), Fabinho (Monaco), Luis Filipe (Atletico Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus) and Douglas Santos (Atlético-MG).

Defenders: Miranda (Inter Milan), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (PSG), Jemerson (Monaco) and Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal).

Defensive-midfielders: Rodrigo Caio (São Paulo), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Walace (Grêmio), Elias (Corinthians) and Fernandinho (Machester City).

Attacking-midfielders: Ganso (São Paulo), Rafinha (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Kaká (Orlando City), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Oscar (Chelsea), Lucas Lima (Santos), Willian (Chelsea) and Felipe Anderson (Lazio).

Forwards: Lucas (PSG), Douglas Costa (Bayern), Luan (Grêmio), Hulk (Zenit), Firmino (Liverpool), Jonas (Benfica), Alex Teixeira (Jiangsu Suning) Gabigol (Santos), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras) and Ricardo Oliveira (Santos).

David Luiz and Thiago Silva Out Of Brazil Copa América Squad

Brazil Defines 40-Man List For Copa América Centenário

The Brazilian Football Confederation has defined a preliminary list of 40 players for the Copa América Centenário, which will be played between 3 and 26 June, in the United States.

The meeting was attended by coach Dunga, his assistant Andrey Lopes, and team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi.

The tournament’s rule requires all participating teams to send a list of 40 players to CONMEBOL within April 29. Then on May 5, Dunga will reveal the final 23 players he’s chosen, including three goalkeepers.

A possible replacement for an injury can be picked from the 40-man list, if a medical report is presented.

The Brazilian team starts their preparations in Los Angeles, on May 23. The opening game is scheduled for June 4 against Ecuador. They then takes on Haiti on the 8th, and Peru, on the 12th.

The main absentee from Brazil’s squad is Barcelona forward Neymar. Despite repeated attempts, the Brazilian football federation failed to convince Barcelona to release the player for two competitions, and he will play only in the Olympics.

Brazil Defines 40-Man List For Copa América Centenário

Robinho Two Goals Away From Pelé"s Copa Libertadores Tally

After scoring in Atlético Mineiro’s 4-0 win over Melgar, striker Robinho reached the mark of 15 goals in the Copa Libertadores.

After recording 14 goals for Santos [in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 editions], Robinho scored his first goal in an Atlético shirt in the South American competition on Thursday.

With 10 goals in 10 games for Atlético Mineiro, Robinho is also the current top scorer in the Campeonato Mineiro [9 goals].

Aged 32, the player still has a chance to enter the list of 10 Brazilian players with most goals in Copa Libertadores history.

After reaching 15 goals, Robinho has surpassed Rogério Ceni, Luís Fabiano, Washington, Thiago Ribeiro and Neymar, all with 14 goals.

Now he shares the 11th place with Leandro Damião and Alex, former player of Palmeiras and Cruzeiro.

With two more goals, Robinho can also match Brazilian football legend Pelé who has 17 in the continental competition.

Brazilian with most goals in the history of the Libertadores:

1. Luizão (29)

2. Palhinha (25)

3. Célio (22)

4. Jairzinho (21)

5. Guilherme (19)

6. Tita (18), Marcelinho Carioca (18)

8. Pelé (17)

9. Zico (16), Jardel (16)

11. Robinho (15), Alex (ex-Palmeiras) (15), Leandro Damião (15)

14. Thiago Ribeiro (14), Rogério Ceni (14), Luis Fabiano (14), Washington (14), Neymar (14)

Robinho Two Goals Away From Pelé"s Copa Libertadores Tally

Barcelona Won’t Release Neymar For Copa America

Barcelona have announced that they will only allow Neymar to play in the Olympics for Brazil this summer, but not the Copa América.

The Seleção will be involved in both tournaments this summer and the CBF and Dunga were hopeful of having Neymar available for both.

Technically, Barcelona cannot refuse to release Neymar for the Copa América as it is a FIFA tournament. However, the Olympics is not and the club can refuse to release players for the games.

Brazil slightly prioritise the Olympics, having never won the gold medal for football and with the games taking place in Rio de Janeiro.

Dunga and Barca manager Luis Enrique have held talks over recent weeks regarding the Brazil captain’s summer schedule, but Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu told journalists on Saturday that they would not countenance releasing their forward for two tournaments during the off season.

“It will be impossible to convince us [to release the player twice],” Bartomeu said, according to UOL Esporte. “We are aware of the importance [of the Copa America], but our view is that players need to have some rest after two strong seasons.

“We see no problem in Neymar playing at the Olympics,” he said. “The club would be enchanted, and I would take him if I were the Brazilian manager.”

Meanwhile, Bartomeu insisted the club are not worried about the player’s unresolved contract issue, “Barca don’t need to hurry. We won’t put pressure on the player, and instead we will allow him to focus on the competitions,” Bartomeu said.

“I know we won’t have problems because the player himself has already said he wants to stay. Our plan is to have him here until the end of his career.”

Credit: Sambafoot

Barcelona Won’t Release Neymar For Copa America

Neymar Wants To Play At Olympics And Copa América Centenário

Even after the conversation between Dunga and Luis Enrique last week, there is still no official announcement on Neymar’s participation at the Olympic Games and Copa América Centenário.

Brazilian Football Federation will have another meeting with Barcelona, but Neymar hopes the parties reach an agreement, so that he can play in both tournaments.

He told Globo Esporte: “I want to play both. I’m 24, I have to take advantage of this gas [laughs]. In a few years I will no longer be able to do it all. I think today I have the gas, yes. I don’t know anything about the conversation that Dunga had with the coach. Let’s see what happens. I’ll talk to the coach here and to those responsible for it. I hope to play the two.”

Brazil FA wants Neymar in both competitions, but Barça are playing hardball and want to release the player only for one, so that he would have time to rest between the current and next seasons. Dunga has already indicated that, if given the choice, he prefers to see Neymar in the Olympics.

Source: Sambafoot

Neymar Wants To Play At Olympics And Copa América Centenário

Inaki Williams strikes but crushes out of Copa to Barcelona

Inaki Williams continued his impressive goal scoring run for Athletic Bilbao with his eleventh goal of the season in their Copa defeat to FC Barcelona.

The 21 year old forward celebrated his new four and half year deal with an opening goal for his Basque side in a thrilling 3-1 defeat to the reigning Spanish champions.

The much sought after Basque born Ghanaian attacker recently swerved a switch to English football to sign a contract extension that will see him stay at the San Mames till the summer of 2021.

Bilbao lost the opening leg at home 1-2 to their Pamplona based European heavy weight but Williams 12th minute strike levelled the tie earlier at the Camp Nou. The 21 year old feasted on a sumptuous ball from Aritz Aduriz to silence the roaring camp nou after a sustained pressure from Ernesto Valverdo’s men.

Barcelona returned from recess in class as Messi teed up Luis Suarez for the equaliser eight minutes into the second department of the game. The pendulum swung away from the 2015 Copa del Rey Finalists in the last few minutes as Neymar and Pique scored late goals to end the match 3-1 as Barcelona progress to the semi finals on a 5-2 aggregate.

Williams boast of the highest scoring player in Europe top five leagues under the age of 21 years.

Inaki Williams strikes but crushes out of Copa to Barcelona

Mubarrack Wakasu provides crucial assist to seal Copa Quarters for Las Palmas

Black stars midfielder Mubarrack Wakasu bagged a crucial assist for Las Palmas at home to Eibar to book a last four slot in the Spanish Copa Del Rey.

The 25 year old much travelled midfielder reinstated Palmas into the tie after setting up Momo for the equalising goal in the return fixture of the cup match.

Las Palmas shook off Eibar in a thrilling 3-2 triumph to extend their cup dream.

The nomadic Ghana international shrugged off a 37th minute caution to end his night with a crucial assist for his side.

Las Palmas won the first leg 3-2 away to Eibar but soon found themselves on the brink of elimination eight minutes into the second half.

An own goal from David Junca on the stroke of half time was cancelled out by two strikes Borja Ekizza and Sergi Enrich in a space of one minute to turn the tie on its head.

Wakaso then teed up Momo for the equalising goal on the hour mark to tie the match and put Palas ahead on aggregate scores. David Garcia then replicated the first leg scoreline with an 83rd minute winner to end the match at 3-2 and the tie 6-4 in favour of thd home side.

Wakaso returned to Spain for the second time after spells with Villareal and Elche. He has since managed 12 appearances for Las Palmas with one goal to his name since arriving at the Estadio Gran Canaria from Russia.

Mubarrack Wakasu provides crucial assist to seal Copa Quarters for Las Palmas

Innaki Williams on target as Bilbao draws first blood in Copa last 8.

High flying Spanish born Ghanaian attacking midfielder Innaki Williams registered his 9th goal of the season for Athletic Bilbao as they edged out Villa Real in the Spanish Cup.

The in-form attacking midfielder capped another impressive outing for his Basque side with a goal in the five goal thriller.

Athletic Bilbao reincarnated from a 0-2 deficit to a 3-2 well deserved win in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey last 8 stages.

Villareal shot into a 16th minute lead through Brazilian forward Leo Baptistao before Samuel doubled the lead with 7 minutes to recess. The Yellow Submarines tormented their guest in a blistering opening half before collapsing in the second department of the game.

Williams capitalized on his pace to register a back to back goal in a space of 3 days after his thunderbolt at home to Las Palmas.

The basque born proficient forward made it 1-2 in the opening 9 minutes of the second half.

Further goals from Aritz Aduriz and Laporte turned the game on its head as Bilbao run out 3-2 winners.

The runners up to last season’s Copa Del Rey will however be heading to the El Madrigal with backlash from the yellow Submarines in mind.

Williams has since racked in 9 goals in just 20 appearances after a torrid time on the treatment room.

Innaki Williams on target as Bilbao draws first blood in Copa last 8.