Brazil announce squad for international friendlies, Lucas Leiva rewarded with national call up

Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva has been rewarded with a national call up (Getty Images)

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva rewarded with national call up for his recent form. He was included in Brazil’s 22-man squad for the friendlies against South Korea and Zambia. He will take the place of Fernando in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad.

Notable omissions from the quad are captain Thiago Silva, goalkeeper Julio Cesar and striker Fred. They will miss the tie due to injury. They will be replaced by Dede, Victor and Bernard.

Scolari has once again ignored Kaka and Ronaldinho.

Brazil will face South Korea on 12th October and on 15th October they will face Zambia in Beijing.

Brazil’s 22-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro), Diego Cavalieri (Fluminense)

Defenders: Dani Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (Roma), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Maxwell (Paris Saint-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich) Henrique (Palmeiras), Dede (Cruzeiro).

Midfielders: Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Hernanes (Lazio), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Paulinho (Tottenham), Ramires (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea).

Attackers: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Lucas (Paris Saint-Germain) Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexandre Pato (Corinthians), Neymar (Barcelona).