Diniz calls up Endrick for Brazil’s games against Colombia and Argentina; see list of candidates

Less than 48 hours after the unprecedented victory of the Copa Libertadores by Fluminense, coach Fernando Diniz changed his hat and, temporarily heading the Brazilian team, called up this Monday (6) 24 players for the next rounds of the Qualifiers for the Copa do World of 2026.

With the absence of important names such as striker Neymar and midfielder Casemiro, who were injured, Diniz called up young Endrick, 17, from Palmeiras, for the first time.

According to the coach, the athlete has “the potential to be one of the great talents” in world football. “He is experiencing his best moment, playing against the great teams in Brazil and managing to stand out”, said the coach, adding that the striker’s call-up points to what the future of the Brazilian team could be.

Also among the new players in the attack were João Pedro, from Brighton, in England, a player revealed in the youth teams of Fluminense, Paulinho, from Atlético Mineiro, and Pepê, from Porto, in Portugal. “These players that I called up will, at this moment, be better able to deliver what I am expecting,” said Diniz.

Regarding Tottenham striker Richarlison, who was being called up but is not on the current list, the coach said he considers him an “excellent player”, but considered that he was unable to deliver everything he could in the last qualifying games for the national team. .

Diniz also called up two Libertadores champion players for Fluminense: defender Nino and midfielder André.

He said that the absence of Neymar, from Saudi Al Hilal, who was injured in the qualifying match against Uruguay and should only return in mid-2024, is a loss for Brazilian and world football.

“He is a football genius, one of the greatest players in history,” said Diniz. “He still has to write the most beautiful pages in his history. It wasn’t this injury that erased that possibility,”

he added.

Regarding the absence of midfielder Lucas Paquetá, from West Ham, in England, the coach said that he is, in his opinion, one of the best of the current generation, but preferred not to call up the player while the FA investigation is ongoing, the English football federation, due to the athlete’s alleged irregular involvement in sports betting.

Currently third in the league table, Brazil will face Colombia on November 16th, at 9pm (Brasília time), in Barranquilla. Then, on the 21st, they will face current world champion Argentina, led by star Lionel Messi, at 9:30 pm, at Maracanã.

“Historically, they are two opponents where the games are difficult. Argentina, in itself, is the last champion of the world, it has one of the greatest players in history and other great players”,

said Diniz.

“And Colombia is one of the teams in the last two or three decades that has gained a lot of visibility on the world stage, with players in very prominent European leagues,” he added.

The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) also announced this Monday that the Brazilian team will play a friendly against England, on March 23, 2024, at Wembley Stadium, in London. The last clash between the two teams was in 2017, a goalless draw.

CHECK BELOW DINIZ’S CALL FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THE ELIMINATORIES:

GOALKEEPERS

• Alisson (Liverpool)
• Ederson (Manchester City)
• Lucas Perri (Botafogo)

SIDES

• Emerson Royal (Tottenham)
• Carlos Augusto (Inter Milan)
• Renan Lodi (Olympique de Marseille)

ZAGUEIROS

• Bremer (Juventus)
• Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
• Marquinhos (PSG)
• Nino (Fluminense)

MIDFIELD

• André (Fluminense)
• Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)
• Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
• Joelinton (Newcastle)
• Raphael Veiga (Palmeiras)
• Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

ATTACKERS

• Endrick (Palmeiras)
• Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
• Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
• João Pedro (Brighton)
• Paulinho (Atlético-MG)
• Pepê (Porto)
• Raphinha (Barcelona)
• Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

*With information from the Folha de S.Paulo website

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