See The Brazil team to face Mexico In Friendly Match

The coach confirmed that Fred, Coutinho and Diego Tardelli are all set to start on Sunday while Thiago SIlva will return to the bench

By Odunayor

Brazil coach Dunga has confirmed that Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred and Shandong Luneng striker Diego Tardelli will start the Selecao’s Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour clash with Mexico.

The five-time world champions meet their North American counterparts at Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo on Sunday in the first match Brazil will play on home soil since last year’s World Cup.

Santos forward Robinho has been ruled out of the game after picking up a knee injury in training this week.

Manchester City’s Fernandinho is also a doubt after limping out of Saturday’s session, and Dunga has lined up Real Madrid’s Casemiro as a potential replacement.

"The team will be the one that you have already seen training,” Dunga told a press conference.
“We have trained all week, and I will not change the team one day before the game."

Asked about the fact that he had trained at Comary Granja with only nine outfield players, Dunga confirmed Fred will join the starting XI on Sunday.

"Good, that means you are paying attention,” laughed Dunga. “It's Fred," he added.

Brazil will also be without Oscar and Luiz Gustavo, who will both miss this month’s Copa America through injury, while Neymar is yet to join the squad after competing in the Champions League final for Barcelona on Saturday.

"That's part of football,” continued Dunga.

“It gives a chance to other players, we have great competition for places. It's always good to have opportunities to test new players ahead of the Copa America.”

Diego Tardelli will lead the attack, returning to replace Roberto Firmino after a four-game absence.

Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho will be given a chance to prove he can fill Oscar’s boots in Chile, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva returns to the bench and will be replaced in the back-four by club-mate David Luiz who missed March’s victories over France and Chile through injury.

Fred will join Elias and Fernandinho, or Casemiro, in a midfield that looks set to facilitate a change in shape from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3/4-5-1.

Brazil XI to face Mexico: Jefferson; Danilo Miranda, David Luiz and Filipe Luis; Fernandinho (Casemiro), Elias and Fred; Philippe Coutinho, Willian; Diego Tardelli