Manager Carlo Ancelotti has announced his Brazil squad for the September friendlies, marking the recall of forward Joao Pedro and the surprising omission of goalkeeper Alisson and forward Matheus Cunha. The news was reported by Sky Sports Football this week, as the team tops its World Cup group with seven points from three matches.
Who made Ancelotti's squad?
Ancelotti's selection for the matches against Australia and India brought both fresh faces and familiar ones. Alongside Joao Pedro, who was previously snubbed for the World Cup, young Nottingham Forest full-back Jair Cunha received his first senior call-up. Manchester United midfielder Andrey Santos and Manchester City defender Vitor Reis retain their places. Arsenal forward Gabriel is also included, as is Chelsea winger Esteveo, who returns after missing the tournament through injury. The full squad list is available on our squad page.
Why were Alisson and Matheus Cunha left out?
The absence of Alisson, considered Brazil's number one goalkeeper, is particularly notable. The Liverpool keeper had started against Atletico Madrid last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Manchester United's Matheus Cunha had been enjoying a solid start to the Premier League season with two assists in three games and was a regular feature during the World Cup campaign. The omission of Brentford midfielder Thiago completes the trio of significant absences. Ancelotti has chosen to look at other options while the Seleção maintains a strong group stage campaign, having scored seven goals and conceded just one.
What is the team's current context?
The squad announcement comes during a period of post-World Cup rebuilding, following their last-16 exit to Norway by a 2-1 scoreline on July 5th. Since then, the team has responded well, winning four of their last five matches. Their next fixture is an away challenge against Australia on September 25th. The full schedule can be viewed in our fixtures section. The team aims to solidify its good form before World Cup qualifying resumes, using the September window to evaluate options.
What does Joao Pedro's recall mean?
For Joao Pedro, the call-up represents a shot at redemption. After being left out of the World Cup squad, the Chelsea forward used a full pre-season with his club to regain the manager's trust. He will get the chance to feature in both friendlies against Australia and the single game against India. His inclusion reflects Ancelotti's search for more attacking power, an area he undoubtedly monitors through our team stats. The recent loss to Norway still serves as a reminder of the need for efficiency in the final third. The Brazil national team departs for Australia on September 23rd.
