体坛英语新闻：Brazil names team for pre-World Cup friendlies

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Midfielder Ramires, who plays for England's Chelsea, and defender Maicon, for Italy's Roma, are the newest players called to join the 22-member Brazilian lineup for friendly matches in September against Australia and Portugal, in the lead up to the 2014 World Cup.

Ramires, who lives in London, was left out of the national roster for the Confederations Cup, a penalty for having reported late to the technical commission in February, when Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had his second game with the team, which lost to England 2-1 in London.

The lineup also includes Maicon, a 2010 World Cup veteran, and defender Henrique, who plays for Palmeiras.

The friendly match against Australia is scheduled for Sept. 7 at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, and the game against Portugal is on Sept. 10 at Gilllette Stadium in the U.S. city of Boston.

Coach Scolari has called most of the players who helped win the Confederations Cup in June and then lost against Switzerland in a friendly match played in Basel on Aug. 14.

The lineup now features defender David Luiz, right defender Dani Alves and forward Hulk, all of whom are recovering from injuries, goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who has yet to realize his wish to leave the Queens Park Rangers, which this year will compete for the championship of England's second division.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (England's Queens Park Rangers) and Jefferson (Brazil's Botafogo).

Defenders: Thiago Silva (France's Paris Saint-Germain), David Luiz (England's Chelsea), Dante (Germany's Bayern Munich), Henrique (Brazil's Palmeiras), Dani Alves (Spain's Barcelona), Maicon (Roma), Marcelo (Spain's Real Madrid) and Maxwell (Paris Saint-Germain).

Midfielders: Fernando (Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk), Hernanes (Italy's Lazio), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Paulinho (England's Tottenham), Ramires (Chelsea) and Oscar (Chelsea).

Forwards: Hulk (Russia's Zenit), Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Brazil's Fluminense), Jo (Brazil's Atletico Mineiro) and Lucas (Paris Saint-Germain).