Manager Dunga left out superstars Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka from his new 22-man squad. Only eight members of Brazil's World Cup squad were included.
RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian football's rebuilding effort has begun in earnest as the country's new manager announced a drastically altered squad for its first friendly since exiting this year's World Cup in the quarter-finals.
Manager Dunga left out superstars Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka from his new 22-man squad. Only eight members of Brazil's World Cup squad were included.
Brazil will face Norway in Oslo on Aug 16.
In remarks following the announcement on Tuesday, Dunga said his new squad was the right mix of youth and experience. Younger additions including Morais, Jonatas and Marcelo still needed leadership figures, he said.
Dunga added that players kept from the World Cup team were being rewarded for their good play in Germany.
As for the country's superstars, Dunga said they would have to work hard to regain their place in the national squad.
"The doors of the national 11 have not been closed to anyone," Dunga said. "But those players not included this time will need to show they are in form and motivated," he added.
While the reshuffle came as little surprise to local media, some analysts had expected more local club representation - the vast majority of those included play their football for European sides.
The Brazilian squad for the friendly against Norway: Goal: Fabio (Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte) and Gomes (PSV Eindhoven); Defenders: Cicinho (Real Madrid), Maicon (Inter Milan), Marcelo (Fluminese Rio), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Alex (PSV Eindhoven), Edmilson (FC Barcelona), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Luisao (Benfica Lisbon); Midfielders: Dudu Cearense (CSKA Moscow), Daniel Carvalho (CSKA Moscow), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Jonatas (Flamengo Rio), Wagner (Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte), Elano (Schachtjor Donezk), Morais (Vasco da Gama), Julio Batista (Real Madrid); Strikers: Fred (Lyon), Robinho (Real Madrid), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow)
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