Arsenal forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have been named in Brazil’s 26-man squad for the World Cup while Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino has been left out.
Selecao coach Tite named his 26-man squad for the Qatar tournament on Monday evening, which also included Tottenham’s Richarlison and Manchester United’s Antony, but Firmino was the most noticeable absentee with Martinelli, who only has three caps for his country, preferred.
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Jesus, like his Arsenal team-mate, had not featured in a Brazil squad since the summer but has been recalled to Tite’s World Cup selection, which consists of a near all-Premier League midfield with Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred called up alongside Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, Fabinho of Liverpool and West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta.
Image: Arsenal's Martinelli has been capped just three times for Brazil but is heading to the World Cup
Premier League goalkeepers Alisson and Ederson have also been selected with captain Thiago Silva of Chelsea also in the 26-man squad.
There is also a call-up for 39-year-old Dani Alves who currently plays for Mexican side PUMAS, but Arsenal defender Gabriel, who scored for the Gunners in their 1-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday, has been left out.
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Firmino is one of four players called up to Brazil’s penultimate squad for the World Cup in September to not be selected for Qatar, the others being Nottingham Forest full-back Renan Lodi, Roma defender Roban Ibanez and Atletico Madrid’s Matheus Cunha.
Image: Roberto Firmino's start to the season for Liverpool has not been enough to earn him a World Cup spot
Meanwhile, Brazil were unable to call up Aston Villa’s Phillipe Coutinho after the midfielder suffered a thigh injury that will keep him out of the entire tournament.
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Antony and Guimaraes celebrate call-ups
Manchester United winger Antony posted a video of him celebrating his World Cup call-up with his nearest and dearest, as the 22-year-old prepares to head to his first World Cup.
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Manchester United’s Antony celebrates being included in the Brazil World Cup squad for the tournament in Qatar
The winger captioned the video: “For you!!! Thank you, God!! Thank you everyone… friends, family, mom, dad, brothers!! Love you!!! Too much emotion!!”
Footage of Newcastle midfielder Guimaraes celebrating in a similar fashion also appeared on social media on Monday afternoon, with the 24-year-old sharing the moment with his family and friends.
Brazil’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
Defenders: Dani Alves (Pumas UNAM), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham)
Attackers: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
‘Martinelli has forced his way in, but risky not taking Firmino’
South American football expert Tim Vickery on Sky Sports News:
“None of them [Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli] were in the last squad. With Gabriel Magalhaes, he was in the squad for a while without playing and I think it became clear that the coach didn’t trust him, or didn’t trust him enough, so his exclusion is not a surprise.
“Gabriel Jesus was always in, while Gabriel Martinelli has given the coach sleepless nights. I was with the coach two or three weeks ago, after Arsenal had beaten Liverpool, and Martinelli, in the coach’s words, was the best player on the field.
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South American football expert Tim Vickery explains Brazil’s World Cup squad announcement, including the surprise omission of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino and the inclusion of Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli.
“A month or so ago, I don’t think Martinelli was in the squad, but he has forced his way in through sheer week-after-week excellence for Arsenal. It has been a very difficult decision. How are you going to get him in? There were two ways.
“One was to only pick one right-back and not take Dani Alves, who is now 39. That’s the thing that is getting most of the headlines over here, that Alves – now in Mexico, without a lot of football behind him – is still included. They could have left him out, used Eder Militao at centre-back to cover the right-back position and opened up a space for a striker.
“They chose not to do that, but the fella who has been left out is Roberto Firmino of Liverpool. Brazil are taking a little bit of a risk here. Martinelli is a wide striker and Brazil have more wide strikers than they know what to do with. What they don’t have is a straight replacement for Neymar.
“They won both of their recent friendlies very well, but he picked up yellow cards in both of those games. If he does that in a World Cup, he’s suspended.
Image: Richarlison has not featured for Tottenham since the 2-0 win over Everton on October 15
“They don’t have an obvious replacement for him in that false nine position. Firmino was their man, but they’ve decided to leave him out. That heaps responsibility on young Rodrygo to step into that role if needed.
“It’s not a surprise Richarlison is in the squad. He’s scored seven goals in his last six games for Brazil – he is their penalty area finisher. They have got plenty of players to build up the play; they need someone to finish in the penalty area and he has been the man.
“There was real worry when he limped off earlier this month, but Brazil’s doctor came over, had a look, and they are very confident he’s going to be firing on all cylinders come November 24.”
Brazil’s World Cup group stage fixtures
All kick-offs GMT
Brazil vs Serbia – November 24, kick-off 7pm
Brazil vs Switzerland – November 28, kick-off 4pm
Cameroon vs Brazil – December 2, kick-off 7pm
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