Veteran defenders Dani Alves, Thiago Silva recalled to Brazil squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Sao Paulo: Veteran defenders Dani Alves and Thiago Silva were brought back into the Brazil squad on Friday for next month’s World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador and Paraguay. Brazil coach Tite said the 38-year-old Alves and the 36-year-old Silva were called up because they are “athletes who happen to play football.” Alves, a former Barcelona right-back, is one of the key players for Sao Paulo, while Silva has reached the Champions League final with Chelsea. Brazil leads the South American qualifying group with four wins from four matches, two points ahead of Argentina. The 10 South American teams had been scheduled to play matches in March, but they were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tite said the squad announced for the matches in Porto Alegre on 4 June and in Asuncion four days later is not necessarily for the Copa America, which kicks off on 13 June. Brazil last played in November, when it beat Uruguay 2-0. Tite said the six months of inactivity has hurt the team. “This halt affected all South American teams. It is a reality we wouldn’t like to live,” Tite said. “But we will have to be able to move other instruments to keep our competitiveness high up.” Squad: Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras) Defenders: Dani Alves (Sao Paulo), Danilo, Alex Sandro (Juventus), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Lucas Verissimo (Benfica), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thiago Silva (Chelsea) Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (Lyon) Forwards: Everton (Benfica), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Richarlison (Everton), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)