The Brazilian squad for the next round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers has been announced on Tuesday. There is no place for troubled forward Ronaldinho in the 25-men squad, who has been out of action with Barcelona because of fitness and weight problems. Instead, Inter Milan’s Adriano is the new addition for the games against Paraguay and Argentina in June.
Ronaldinho has been facing ignorance at Barcelona since April 4 for which a hamstring injury has been cited as the reason. He also missed out on selection fro the last two qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay in November 2007. And now, when the squad for the upcoming World Cup has been announced, Brazil coach Dunga ignores the superstar of Barcelona.

Brazil will face Venezuela in Boston on June 6 and Paraguay on June 15 in Asuncion before the match against Argentina on June 18 at Belo Horizonte.

A friendly match against Canada has also been decided to carry out in Seattle on May 31.

Brazil squad:

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan/ITA), Diego Alves (Almeria/ESP), Doni (AS Roma/ ITA)

Defenders: Alex (Chelsea/ENG), Juan (AS Roma/ITA), Lucio (Bayern Munich/GER), Luisao (Benfica/POR), Daniel Alves (Sevilla/ESP), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin/GER), Kleber (Santos), Maicon (Inter Milan/ITA)

Midfielders: Anderson (Man United/ENG), Diego (Werder Bremen/GER), Elano (Man City/ENG), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal/ENG), Josue (Wolfsburg/GER), Julio Baptista (Real Madrid/ESP), Kaka (AC Milan/ITA), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin/GER).

Attackers: Adriano (Sao Paulo), Pato (AC Milan/ITA), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla/ESP), Robinho (Real Madrid/ESP), Rafael Sobis (Real Betis/ESP).

Steve Borthwick has been named as the captain of England rugby team for its tour of New Zealand next month. He also captained the team for England’s Six Nations victory over Italy three months ago. The news was a matter of surprise for Borthwick. He expressed, “there are a number of quality players around and quality leaders. I heard my name being mentioned, but it was a case of concentrating on these games we have got coming up with Bath. When Martin called me and asked me to captain the side, you can’t expect anything like that. So, yes, it was a surprise.”
When he was asked if he saw himself as captain for the long run, he replied, “”No, I wouldn’t say that at all. To aspire to something like that is not in my make-up. What I aspire to is playing at a level and conducting myself at a level that has the respect of my peers. If I am seen fit to do a role like I have been for this tour, then fantastic.”

Borthwick thus leads a squad of 32 men that includes six uncapped players.

England squad:

Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Paul Sackey (Wasps), David Strettle (Harlequins), Topsy Ojo (London Irish), Mathew Tait (Newcastle), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Toby Flood (Newcastle), Olly Barkley (Bath), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), Peter Richards (London Irish), Danny Care (Harlequins).

Forwards: Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Tim Payne (Wasps), Matt Stevens (Bath), Jason Hobson (Bristol), Lee Mears (Bath), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), David Paice (London Irish), Steve Borthwick (Bath) (c), Ben Kay (Leicester), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester), James Haskell (Wasps), Joe Worsley (Wasps), Michael Lipman (Bath), Tom Rees (Wasps), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Luke Narraway (Gloucester).

England will fly to New Zealand on June 2 and Rugby Football Union’s elite rugby director Rob Andrew will take on tour manager responsibilities.