Menezes Makes Wholesale Changes
In the aftermath of the World Cup disappointment five time champions Brazil is set to usher into a new era as they shun some of their star players in a bid to re-build the team for the 2014 World Cup that will be staged in the South American powerhouse.
The newly installed coach Mano Menezes has made sweeping changes to the team that was sent packing by the Netherlands in the quarterfinal stage of the tournament.
There are only four survivors from the squad that went to South Africa for the prestigious event won by Spain eventually.
Menezes has brought in a number of rookies as he sets to prepare a team that can lift the title at home in four years time, his immediate target however is a friendly next month against the United States.
The quartet of Dani Alves, Ramires, Thiago Silva and Robinho are the only survivors, while Santos pair Paulo Henrique Ganso and Neymar, who were not included in the squad penned down for the World Cup Menezes' predecessor Dunga, were among 11 uncapped players included.
Making up the rest of the squad are the likes of Jefferson, Renan and Victor, defenders Rafael, David Luis and Rever, midfielders Ederson and Jucilei and striker Andre.
Menezes also drafted in the squad AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato who also failed to make it to the World Cup, while Liverpool midfielder Lucas also returns to the national fold.
The 48-year-old coach who has had considerable success for his club Corinthians, named his squad two days after replacing Dunga.
The former World Cup winning captain Dunga decided to leave the job following the 2-1 defeat by the Dutch just over three weeks ago.
Menezes said that he had chosen a largely young team with an eye on the World Cup as he feels that a young bunch of players can take the team forward and pose a serious challenge to other team for the 2014 edition.
"We have no restrictions to call on any players, not even those who just played in the World Cup, and you can see four of them are there (on the list). What will be taken into consideration is their current performance, the trust that built over their work, and we must respect their age because it comes and ends up getting in our way. I think that in soccer, just as in life, the line must move on and some will be better prepared than others and this will be the general rule," he said.
Meanwhile the team short listed by Menezes sees the exclusion of some of the leading players in the modern history that many expected were good enough to lead the World Cup.
The players who have been sidelined include goalkeeper Julio Cesar, defenders Maicon, Lucio and Juan, and Real Madrid’s star playmaker Kaka.
Menezes claimed that his attention was on the vulnerable mid-field composition that was exposed by the Dutch in the tournament last eights match.
He added that in his book the mid-filed was crucial to any team’s chances in a big tournament as they are the ones to soak up the pressure and develop goal scoring opportunities for the strikers.
"I, as you know, like to play with a defensive line of four players in the back line, so I will always see the side midfielders with this team configuration in mind. This (midfielders) is likely the position where we have been facing greatest difficulties," he said.
The outgoing coach Dunga was under the spotlight of the Brazilian media for all the wrong reasons, and was often criticized for his team's lack of style.
Menezes on the other hand has vowed to changes the playing style and approach of his squad and ensure at the same time that they play with the flair and style that they were renowned for over the years.
The new coach is set to hold the reigns of the squad until the 2014 World Cup; another major task at hand for him is to coach the under-23 team at the London Olympics two years from now.
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