Still recovering, Neymar named in Brazil squad
SAOPAULO: Neymar has been confirmed in a Brazil 23-man World Cup squad of few surprises.
Neymar has been recovering from right foot surgery in March. The only surprises were among the likely reserves for the tournament in Russia, with the inclusion of Shaktar Donetsk’s Fred and Taisson.
All but one of coach Tite’s starting line-up in World Cup qualifiers was confirmed in the squad on Monday: Alisson; Miranda, Marquinhos and Marcelo; Casemiro, Paulinho, Renato Augusto and Philippe Coutinho; Neymar and Gabriel Jesus.
Injured right back and team leader Dani Alves was replaced by Manchester City’s Danilo and Corinthians’ Fagner. Brazil will start its World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 17, followed by Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E.
GUERRERO TO MISS CUP
ZURICH: Peru captain Paolo Guerrero will miss the World Cup in Russia after his doping ban, which had just expired, was increased from six to 14 months, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday.
Guerrero tested positive for cocaine following a World Cup qualifier in Argentina in October after drinking a tea containing the substance, CAS said.
It accepted that Peru’s all-time leading scorer did not intend to enhance his performance but said he was at fault, even if it not significantly.
The 34-year-old was initially banned for 12 months by FIFA, which was then reduced to six months on appeal. The suspension finished 10 days ago.
However, CAS partially accepted an appeal from the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) which had requested that the sanction be increased to between one and two years.
Guerrero, who has denied wrongdoing throughout, had also appealed to CAS to request the ban be annulled altogether.