Daily Times

RIO DE JANEIRO: Chelsea star Oscar misses out but Brazil include the Real Madrid pair of Marcelo and Casemiro for the crunch clash next month with old rivals Argentina in World Cup qualifying.

Coach Tite on Friday named a strong 24-man squad for the games at home to Argentina on November 10 and away in Peru five days later. Midfielder Oscar, out of favour at Stamford Bridge, is dropped from the squad but left-back Marcelo and defensive midfielder Casemiro are in following a calf injury and a leg break respectively.

The Sao Paulo defender Rodrigo Caio gets a call-up, as Brazil seek to cement their place at the top of South American qualifying for Russia 2018. Argentina, led by fit-again Lionel Messi – he will line up against Barcelona team-mate and Brazilian star Neymar – are fifth.

Brazil squad:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (AS Roma/ITA), Alex Muralha (Flamengo), Weverton (Atletico Paranaense)

Defenders: Gil (Shandong Luneng/CHN), Marquinhos (Paris SG/FRA), Miranda (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Thiago Silva (Paris SG/FRA), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo), DaniAlves (Juventus/ITA), Fagner (Corinthians), Luis Filipe (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP)

Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid/ESP), Fernandinho (Manchester City/ENG), Giuliano (Zenit Saint-Petersburg/RUS), Lucas Lima (Santos), Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande/CHN), Coutinho (Liverpool/ENG), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan/CHN), Willian (Chelsea/ENG)

Forwards: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich/GER), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/ENG), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras), Neymar (Barcelona/ESP)