Rio de Janeiro, March 27 (IANS) Brazil coach Dunga has called up Santos striker Gabriel and Corinthians centre-back Felipe for the team’s World Cup football qualifier against Paraguay in Asuncion on Tuesday.
The uncapped pair will replace Neymar and David Luiz, who are suspended after receiving their second yellow cards of the qualifying campaign in Brazil’s 2-2 draw with Uruguay on Friday, reports Xinhua.
It will come as welcome news for FC barcelona’s Neymar, now being afforded an unexpected break ahead of next Saturday’s La Liga derby match against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium .
Gabriel, 19, is considered one of Brazil’s brightest talents and is expected to be among the first players picked in the country’s squad for the Olympic Games in August.
Felipe, 26, was a mainstay in the Corinthians team that won last year’s Brazilian Serie A title.
Brazil are third in the South American zone qualifying table for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with eight points from five matches, above Paraguay and Argentina on goal difference.
Ecuador lead the standings with 13 points.
