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Soccer News of Thursday, 8 March 2007

Source: AP

Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho to face Ghana

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Ronaldo has been left out by Brazil again after coach Dunga named his squad for this month's friendlies against Chile and Ghana in Sweden.

The game against Chile will be in Gothenburg and the Ghana match is in Stockholm.

Brazil coach Dunga Thursday named a squad Thursday with nearly all of its 22 players based in Europe. Only three play in Brazil -- Santos defender Kleber and Sao Paulo players Ilsinho and Josue.

Dunga has yet to select AC Milan striker Ronaldo, and Adriano was left out after being called up for the first time since the World Cup for the friendly against Portugal last month.

"Adriano is nursing an injury and that's mostly why he was left out," Dunga said.

Ronaldinho, Kaka, Gilberto Silva and Robinho are on the list, which was announced at the Brazilian Soccer Confederation in Rio de Janeiro.

It will be Dunga's eighth match as coach of the national team since he replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira after Brazil's World Cup elimination in Germany. Dunga has led Brazil to five wins, one draw and one loss -- the 2-0 defeat against Portugal in London.

Dunga revamped the national team with several younger players, but recently he has been trying to establish a base for the Copa America in Venezuela in June.

"Some players have already had their opportunities, now it's time to analyze other players," Dunga said. "We want to have options to form a group."

Brazil eliminated Ghana in the second round of last year's World Cup.

Roster:

Goalkeepers: Helton (FC Porto), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Ilsinho (Sao Paulo), Kleber (Santos), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Alex (PSV Eindhoven), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Luisao (Benfica)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Mineiro (Herth Berlin), Dudu Cearense (CSKA Moscow), Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk), Kaka (AC Milan), Diego (Werder Bremen), Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona), Josue (Sao Paulo)

Forwards: Robinho (Real Madrid), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow), Rafael Sobis (Real Betis), Fred (Lyon)