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| * Luisão |
There might be a gap in the Brazil squad for a fourth centre back, could Luisão be the man to fill it?
Luisão’s performance for Benfica in their midweek Europa
League tie has led to predictable, but not undeserved calls for him to be
included in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s World Cup squad.
Sambafoot’s Stuart Maclennan reported
the story after the centre back scored two goals in his side’s 3-1 victory
away to Tottenham Hotspur, with suggestions that he could be the fourth choice
defender for Brazil
this summer.
It may come as a surprise to hear that Luisão has been to
the last two World Cups with his country, but he failed to make an appearance
at both Germany
in 2006, and South Africa 2010. His two international tournaments of note were Brazil’s 2004 Copa América win, where he netted
in the final against Argentina,
and their 2009 Confederations Cup triumph.
So Luisão does have the international experience, despite
not playing a single game at the two World Cups he’s been involved in, and the
33-year-old does have a history of winning with his country in the tournaments
he’s actually played in.
A captain at club level, he would add extra experience to a
Brazil side which will be relying on several of their younger players to do the
business further up the pitch, and would slot into a back line which already
includes some of Brazil’s older heads.
His goals against Spurs give him a personal haul of five for
the season in all competitions, and his threat from set pieces could add a
different dimension to a Brazil
side which may be lacking in this area.
The three central defenders called up by Scolari for the
recent friendly against South
Africa look to have secured their places in
the squad, but come the summer a fourth will be required. Beyond Thiago Silva,
David Luiz, and Dante, there are a whole host of players who will have an eye
on this final place.
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