Confederations Cup

Brazil will bring a team with little experience.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

(Wednesday, June 4, 2003) -- Another world power will be sending less than its best team to the Conferderations Cup which will be played in France from June 18-29.

After France announced that at least five of its top players will be absent, Brazil coach Alberto Parreira named a few star players to his roster, but the majority of the squad, including 11 previously uncapped players, will be young and without much international experience.

Brazil is in Group B with the United States, Turkey and Cameroon. Group A consists of France, New Zealand, Japan and Colombia. Brazil faces the U.S. June 21 in Lyon.

The three biggest names on the squad are goalkeeper Dida of Italy's AC Milan, the Champions League titlist, midfielder Emerson of AS Roma in Italy and striker Ronaldinho, who plays in France for Paris St. Germain, but is said to be a transfer target of England Premier League winner Manchester United.

Between club commitments, injuries and the need to rest players after long European seasons, Parreira said he has had "enormous difficulties" putting together a roster for France. Last week, he said he would rest players such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Gilberto Silva and Roberto Carlos to give them time get ready for the South American World Cup qualifiers which start in September.

"We knew before that it would be very difficult to put together this team in the face of all these restrictions," said Parreira, referring to the continuing the Copa Brazil and Libertadores Cup competitions still going on. As a result, Parreira decided not to pick any players from Brazilian champion Santos which has reached the Libertadores semifinals nor choose more than two players from any one domestic team except Atletico Paranaense and Cruzeiro.

"Then too," he added, "injuries got in the way as well and other players needed a rest."

Players seeking to make their first international appearances for Brazil include goalkeepers Fabio (Vasco da Gama) and Julio Cesar (Flamengo), defenders Maurinho (Cruzeiro), Fabio Luciano (Corinthians) and Edu Dracena (Cruzeiro), midfielders Dudu Cearense (Vitoria) and Adriano (Atletico Paranaense) and strikers Luis Fabiano (Sao Paulo), Gil (Corinthians) and Ilan (Atletico Paranaense), all from Brazil's Serie A, plus Fabio Aurelio of Spanish club Valencia.

Parreira expects his young team will be playing to win. "This team may lack experience but it's technically strong," he said. "We're not going just to fulfill the fixture list. The Confederations Cup will be an excellent chance for young players to show what they can do and fight for a place in the team."

On the way to France, the team will play a friendly in against Nigeria in Abuja on June 11.

Forwards: Adriano (Parma, Italy), Luis Fabiano (Sao Paulo), Gil (Corinthians), Ilan (Atletico Paranaense).

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent and can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com.