SOCCER
Tite includes Coutinho in Brazil list but leaves Vinicius out
The Real Madrid player is out of his Brazil squad list for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. Coutinho returns after a year's absence.
Vinicius will remain in Madrid during next month's international break. In a surprise move, Brazil coach Tite has decided to leave the Real Madrid winger out of his his squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia on 11 November and Argentina five days later. Vini has been a regular in Tite's most recent lists, and was part of the squad in last summer's Copa América, but has yet to secure a firm place in the side. The forwards in Tite's list include Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Antony, Firmino, Raphinha and Matheus Cunha. The Atlético Madrid player has been named in the squad after making his debut in September but was then omitted for October's games.
"Vinicius is a great player with unbelievable potential. Making a choice between all of the players was a absolute headache. I had to leave certain players out for technical decisions at a specific moment, within a specific model," Tite explained when asked why he opted to leave Vinicius and Richarlison out of his list.
Coutinho called
Another surprise was the return of Philippe Coutinho. In spite of the poor moment of form the Barcelona player is in, Tite has decided to hand the midfielder his first call-up in over a year. Coutinho's last appearance for Brazil was in the 2-4 victory against Peru in October 2020. Hew has tended to perform better with the national team than at club level.
Without Vinicius, the only two Real Madrid players who feature in the list are Casemiro and Militão. Both are regulars with the national team. Rodrygo, who has been overlooked in several of Tite's recent lists, also misses out this time. The only other player from LaLiga included in the squad is Atlético's Renan Lodi.
The full Brazil squad list
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson and Chapecó
Defenders: Danilo, Emerson, Alex Sandro, Lodi, Militão, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Veríssimo
Midfielders: Casemiro, Fabinho, Fred, Coutinho, Gerson and Paquetá
Forwards: Neymar, Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Antony, Raphinha and Cunha.