Host Brazil announces star-studded team

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, May 7, 2014

[WORLD CUP 2014] There were no surprises in Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's 23-player squad for the World Cup. Neymar will lead the host team seeking its sixth World Cup title, while the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho, stars of previous World Cup teams, were not included.

Indeed, no country can offer the talent that will be watching at home this summer like Brazil has. Others overlooked included Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva, Atletico Madrid's Filipe Luis, Paris St. Germain's Lucas Moura and Alexandre Pato, who returned to Brazil, where he now plays for Sao Paulo, with the hope of boosting his World Cup chances.

World Cup 2014 Squads:
Bosnia-Herzegovina (24)
Honduras (23)
Nigeria (30)

Scolari had already named as his four captains: Tiago Silva and David Luiz, striker Fred and Julio Cesar of MLS's Toronto FC. Julio Cesar is the first Brazilian from an MLS club named to a World Cup squad.

World Cup 2014: Warmup Schedule

The players will gather May 26 at the Granja Comary training complex outside the rural town of Teresopolis for training.  Brazil will play two friendlies against Panama and Serbia before opening their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12.



Brazil Roster (23 players):
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Gremio).
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona/SPA), Maicon (Roma/ITA), Marcelo (Real Madrid/SPA), Maxwell (Paris SG/FRA), David Luiz (Chelsea/ENG), Thiago Silva (Paris SG/FRA), Dante (Bayern Munich/GER), Henrique (Napoli/ITA).
Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg/GER), Paulinho (Tottenham/ENG), Ramires (Chelsea/ENG), Fernandinho (Man. City/ENG), Oscar (Chelsea/ENG), Willian (Chelsea/ENG), Hernanes (Inter Milan/ITA), Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Forwards: Fred (Fluminense), Neymar (Barcelona/SPA), Hulk (Zenit St. Petersburg/RUS), Jo (Atletico Mineiro/BRA.