Neymar will rejoin Brazil for their final two World Cup qualifiers after the national team missed the first two games of the year due to injury, coach Tite said on Friday while announcing his squad. The Paris Saint-Germain star, back from an ankle injury, will try to pull out of PSG’s humiliating Champions League side at Real Madrid on Wednesday as he returns to Selçao. The five-time world champions, who qualified for Qatar in November, will play Chile at the Maracan Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on March 24 and Bolivia in La Paz on March 29.
Tite, who recently announced he was planning to step down after the World Cup, said Neymar “played well in the first half” against Real Madrid before falling “like the whole team”.
“He has exceptional qualities, but for anyone who gets injured, he is coming out of a natural process. He is in the process of searching to get back to his top form,” he said.
Neymar will be joined by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.
New names in Tite’s list include Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli and Juventus midfielder Arthur, who is back in the squad after a year-long absence.
Everton striker Richardson also joined the squad.
Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Flamengo’s Gabigol were out fores.
Brazil is ahead of second-placed Argentina on 35 points in South American qualifying with 39 points.
The two sides still have a scheduled rematch for the sixth round of matches, controversially called off by Brazilian health authorities over alleged Argentine violations of COVID-19 protocols.
Brazil squad for March World Cup qualifiers
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool/England), Ederson (Manchester City/England), Weverton (Palmeras)
Protector: Danny Alves (Sao Paulo), Danilo (Juventus/ITA), Alex Telles (Manchester United/England), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Eder Militao (Real Madrid/ESP), Gabriel Magalhes (Arsenal/England), Marquinhos (Paris ) Saint-Germain/FRA), Thiago Silva (Chelsea/England)
Midfielder: Casemiro (Real Madrid/ESP), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle/England), Arthur (Juventus/ITA), Fabinho (Liverpool/England), Fred (Manchester United/England), Lucas Paqueta (Lyon/FRA), Philippe Coutinho (Aston ) Villa/England)
Ahead: Antony (Ajax/HOL), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal/England), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/ESP), Rafinha (Leeds United/England), Richardson (Everton/England), Rodrigo (Real Madrid/ESP)
Read minute-by-minute news updates for Uttar Pradesh Election Result 2022, Punjab Election Result 2022, Uttarakhand Election Result 2022, Manipur Election Result 2022And Goa election result 2022,
Click here for seat-wise LIVE result Updates.