Alhaji Righteous De Ambitious: Oct 30, 2010

Saturday, October 30, 2010

World Cup 2010 Blog: Dinho’s Back: Ronaldinho Gets Brazil Recall

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Dinho’s Back: Ronaldinho Gets Brazil Recall

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 08:31 AM PDT

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Looking to curry favor as the new coach of the most demanding national team in the world? Then call up the superstar exiled by the previous regime yet pursed on the lips of most supporters in the country.

Mano Menezes has done just that: Dinho’s back in the Brazilian fold for a friendly next month.

The opponent? Argentina. Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Mano might as well have called him up for a World Cup final.

This isn’t a provisional thirty, either – it’s the full 23, which means the only way through which Ronaldinho doesn’t make the cut is injury or doing something along the line of confusing prostitute genders. However, the lineup isn’t what you’d call the ‘first team’ – starting and ending in the keeper list, there’s no Julio Cesar, which should say enough – but rather one which looks more like a “bubble team”.

In other words: they’re on it. Want to get off? Play lights out against Argentina, which will be arguably the most watched friendly in some time.

Goalkeepers: Victor (Gremio) Jeferson (Botafogo), Neto (Atletico-PR)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Rafael (Manchester United), Adriano Correa (Barcelona), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Thiago Silva (Milan), David Luiz (Benfica)
Alex Costa (Chelsea), Rever (Atletico-MG)

Midfielders: Lucas (Liverpool), Ramires (Chelsea), Sandro (Tottenham), Jucilei (Corinthians), Douglas (Gremio), Philippe Coutinho (Inter), Ronaldinho Gaucho (Milan), Elias (Corinthians)

Forwards: Robinho (Milan), Alexandre Pato (Milan), Andre (Dinamo Kiev), Neymar (Santos)

For those who need a reminder or have only been paying attention to football since Nigel De Jong planted his size tens into Xabi Alonso’s chestplate, gratuitous Ronaldinho YouTuber: