World Cup 2018: Brazil names 23-man squad [ Shakhtar pair Fred and Taison Included]

Brazil have named their 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as manager Tite aims to lead the Selecao to glory for the sixth time.

The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, has been included in the squad along with his team-mate in Ukraine, Taison, the 30-year-old striker.

Atletico Madrid’s Felipe Luis has been selected as back-up for the Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, meaning there is no place for Juventus defender Alex Sandro. Manchester City’s Danilo will compete with Fagner of Corinthians to be Brazil’s first-choice right-back after Dani Alves withdrew from the squad with a knee injury.

The squad will convene in Brazil on 21 May before travelling to London a week later, basing themselves at Tottenham’s training centre before friendlies with Croatia at Anfield on 3 June and Austria in Vienna on 10 June. They are expected to arrive in Russia on 11 June before their opener against Switzerland on 17 June.

Squad in full

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Man City), Cassio (Corinthians)

Full-backs: Marcelo (Real Madrid) Danilo (Man City), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Fagner (Corinthians).

Centre-backs: Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan), Pedro Geromel (Gremio).

Midfielders: Willian (Chelsea), Fernandinho (Man City), Paulinho (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Fred (Shakhtar).

Forwards: Neymar (PSG), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Douglas Costa (Juventus), Taison (Shakhtar).

Ezekiel Azure

Ezekiel Azure Zion is a sports writer and a blogger who loves what he does.