FIFA World Cup: Felipe Melo back for Brazil against Netherlands

Tenacious midfielder Felipe Melo returned to the Brazil team for the World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands on Friday. 

Felipe Melo, who has become a key player for Brazil in the last year, missed the second round win over Chile with a twisted ankle. He will play alongside Gilberto Silva in front of the Brazil defence.

Elano misses his third game in a row with an ankle injury he sustained in a win over Ivory Coast and was again replaced by Dani Alves on the right side of midfield. Luis Fabiano and Robinho were again named in attack with Kaka just behind.

The Dutch named an unchanged starting lineup from their 2-1 second round win over Slovakia.

Teams for Netherlands vs Brazil

Teams for Friday's World Cup quarter-final match between Netherlands and Brazil at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.          

Netherlands: 1-Maarten Stekelenburg; 2-Gregory van der Wiel, 3-John Heitinga, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 7-Dirk Kuyt, 6-Mark van Bommel, 10-Wesley Sneijder, 8-Nigel de Jong, 11-Arjen Robben; 9-Robin van Persie.                           

Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio, 4-Juan, 6-Michel Bastos, 5-Felipe Melo, 8-Gilberto Silva, 13-Dani Alves, 10-Kaka, 11-Robinho, 9-Luis Fabiano.

Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)