Paulinho forced out of Brazil squad

18-Mar-2013 1:20:00 AM

The Corinthians star has suffered a thigh injury, but coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has elected not to call up a replacement

Brazil will have to do without the services of Paulinho for their upcoming games against Italy and Russia after the Corinthians man picked up a thigh injury.

Playmaker Ronaldinho has been left out after disappointing in the defeat to England at Wembley and failing to impress domestically in South America, but Real Madrid's Kaka has been handed a call-up.

Santos starlet Neymar; Paris Saint-Germain new boy Lucas Moura and Bayern Munich defensive rock Dante are three other names that have made the cut ahead of March's clashes with Fabio Capello and Cesare Prandelli's men.

Scolari failed to select Kaka for his first squad as coach since his return to the Selecao hotseat, but the midfielder could get the chance to prove his worth in the two matches in Europe after impressing for Madrid in February.

The World Cup 2014 hosts travel to Geneva to play Italy on March 21 before taking on Russia at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge four days later.

Name	Club
Goalkeepers:
Diego Cavalieri	Fluminese
Julio Cesar	Queens Park Rangers
Defenders:
Dani Alves	Barcelona
Dante	Bayern Munich
David Luiz	Chelsea
Dede	Vasco
Filipe Luis	Atletico Madrid
Marcelo	Real Madrid
Thiago Silva	Paris Saint-Germain
Midfielders:
Fernando	Gremio
Hernanes	Lazio
Jean	Fluminese
Kaka	Real Madrid
Lucas	Paris Saint-Germain
Luiz Gustavo	Bayern Munich
Oscar	Chelsea
Ramires	Chelsea
Forwards:
Diego Costa	Atletico Madrid
Fred	Fluminese
Hulk	Zenit St Petersburg
Neymar	Santos