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Coutinho: scored five goals for Liverpool last season. AP/Press Association Images
Selecao

Coutinho in, Alves dropped as Dunga cleans house before first Brazil friendlies

Shattered Seleção begin to rebuild following their nightmare World Cup exit.

LIVERPOOL’S PHILIPPE COUTINHO has been handed an international recall by new Brazil coach Dunga.

Coutinho — who won his only senior Seleção cap in 2010 — returns as part of a 22-man squad for the friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador next month.

Brazil’s home World Cup ended in a nightmare 7-1 semi-final defeat against Germany and only 10 players from that squad have been retained as Dunga begins his second term in charge.

Dani Alves, Marcelo and Paulinho are among the most notable names to miss out in the sweeping changes, while captain Thiago Silva is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Star man Neymar, who scored on his return to action for Barcelona following a fractured vertebra, is included as are the Chelsea quartet of Felipe Luis, Ramires, Oscar and Willian.

Brazil face Colombia in Miami on 5 September before they take on Ecuador in New Jersey on 9 September.

Brazil squad

Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Rafael Cabral (Napoli).

Defenders: David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gil (Corinthians), Miranda (Atletico Madrid), Maicon (Roma), Filipe Luis (Chelsea), Alex Sandro (Porto), Danilo (Porto).

Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Elias (Corinthians), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Ramires (Chelsea), Everton Ribeiro (Cruzeiro), Oscar (Chelsea).

Forwards: Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Ricardo Goulart (Cruzeiro), Willian (Chelsea), Neymar (Barcelona), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Diego Tardelli (Atletico Mineiro).

– Additional reporting by AFP

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