Former Middlesbrough star Juninho has been left out of Brazil's squad for the World Cup finals, which was announced last night.
Brazil coach Mario Zagallo decided not to risk the Atletico Madrid forward, who only made his comeback from a three-month lay-off with a broken leg last weekend.
Inter Milan midfielder Ze Elias and Paris Saint Germain's Rai were also excluded from the 22-man list.
Zagallo has had doubts in all areas of the field and the last two friendlies have only increased his selection difficulties. Brazil beat Germany 2-1 in Stuttgart, but then lost 1-0 at home to Argentina. Zagallo has announced this squad one month before the June 2nd deadline, even though some players still have club commitments. He has therefore made it known that he could still make one or two changes.
Brazilian World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers - Taffarel (Mineiro), Germano (Vasco da Gama), Dida (Cruzeiro).
Defenders - Cafu (Roma), Aldair (Roma), Carlos (Real Madrid), Roberto (Flamengo), Ramos Junior (Flamengo), Santos (Sao Paulo), Goncalves (Botafogo).
Midfielders - Dunga (Jubilo Iwata), Cesar (Ana Soto Kogyo), Conceicao (Deportivo La Coruna), Dorival Guidoni Junior (Porto), Rivaldo (Barcelona), Giovanni (Barcelona), Leonardo (AC Milan), Denilson (Sao Paulo).
Strikers - Ronaldo (Inter Milan), Romario (Flamengo), Bebeto (Botafogo), Edmundo (Fiorentina).
