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

David Luiz Buoyant Ahead Of Manchester City Tie

Paris Saint Germain defender David Luiz is in buoyant mood ahead of his team’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City tomorrow.

The Brazilian identified Sergio Aguero as City’s main threat and Luiz knows he will have his hands full marking the Argentine.

“City have had a tough season but they are still a big club with amazing players. We know Sergio Aguero is amazing. We need to pay attention because he can decide a game and he’s a match-winner,” he said.

“It will be a great game, a classic maybe and everybody is buzzing to take part in it. It is really important that we are at home first. OK, it is two games, 180 minutes but we have to start well and get ourselves into a good position,” he added.

But Luiz thinks that training with Zlatan Ibrahimovic every day will stand him in good stead, ‘You know, this guy is brilliant,’ David Luiz told the Daily Mail, “He’s an amazing player but he’s intelligent and clever with it too. He is getting better with experience, I think. He knows the positions to pick up, how to conserve energy, how to exploit defences and win games.

“’How do I cope in training? I kill him!’ Luiz joked. ‘But no, we are doing an amazing season here, we are not conceding many goals, we have had a lot of clean sheets. I’m happy with my game and with my team-mates,” Luiz concluded.

Credit: Sambafoot

David Luiz Buoyant Ahead Of Manchester City Tie