Dunga Calls Fabio Aurelio, Hulk and Michel Bastos

Dunga announced today the players who will play the last 2 matches of the year (against England and Oman). And he had a few surprises. Given that he decided not to call players from Brazilian clubs (and therefore was unable to call Adriano and Diego Tardelli), he called forward Hulk. But he wasn’t the only surprise. Liverpool’s Fabio Aurelio (finally) and Lyon’s Michel Bastos got their calls.

More than friendlies, these 2 matches are the final tests for Dunga before the World Cup. Brazil has only 2 matches scheduled before the cup, and by that, Dunga should have the squad already chosen.

So what ca we make of today’s call? Diego is out – no matter how well his doing at Juventus. He really blew up his chances. As it is the case with Anderson (thank God). Unless something terrific happens, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo are out as well. As i see it, Pato will have to wait for his first world cup too. Unlike all these names, Nilmar seems to have a ticket for South Africa.

Talking about the team, it’s obvious that the left-back is the position which is completely open. If Fabio Aurelio and Michel Bastos deliver it well, they may be going to South Africa. More than that, it seems that Dunga is looking for side-backs who can also play in the midfield (as it happens with Daniel Alves in the right). Or he may choose midfielders who can play as sidebacks, as it’s the case with Spartak’s Alex. In that case, if he decides to take a natural left-back and Alex, we have a spot open for another midfielder or forward. This may be the reason why he took Carlos Eduardo from Hoffenheim to be tested. It remains to be seen.

As for Julio Baptista, there’s no mystery: Dunga trusts him.

The complete roster:

GOALKEEPERS:
Julio César (Inter de Milão)
Doni (Roma)

SIDEBACKS:
Maicon (Inter de Milão)
Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Michel Bastos (Lyon)
Fábio Aurélio (Liverpool)

CENTERBACKS:
Luisão (Benfica)
Juan (Roma)
Naldo (Werder Bremen)
Lúcio (Inter de Milão)

MIDFIELDERS:
Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos)
Josué (Wolfsburg)
Ramires (Benfica)
Felipe Melo (Juventus)
Julio Baptista (Roma)
Kaká (Real Madrid)
Elano (Galatasaray)
Alex (Spartak Moscou)
Carlos Eduardo (Hoffenheim)
Lucas (Liverpool)

FORWARDS:
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla)
Nilmar (Villarreal)
Hulk (Porto)
Robinho (Manchester City)

Related posts:

1. Dunga Calls the National Team and Naldo Returns
2. Dunga calls the squad for the next WC qualifiers matches. A little better?
3. Dunga Calls the Team to Take on Argentina
4. Dunga very close to defining who will play in South Africa
5. In 3 Years, Dunga Called 81 Players