Seleção Calls Up Young Guns For Japan

Coach Rogério Lourenço has released the list of Under-18 players that will head out to compete in the Sendai tournament in Japan. AC Milan man Alexandre Pato is just one of the Brazilians who have competed in the Cup over recent years…

The players will be gathered at familiar training base Granja Comary in Teresópolis near Rio de Janeiro on Friday to begin preparations for the north-eastern Japanese tournament that kicks off at the end of the current month.

Brazil has won the Sendai Cup in three out of four showings so far (2003, 2005 and 2006). The young Brazilian guns will face local club Tohoku, then the French and Japanese national sides in a quadrangular system, the winner being decided on a points system.

Under-18 Seleção Call Up List

Goalkeepers: Renan (Botafogo) and Rafael (Palmeiras)

Wing-backs: Gerônimo (Atlético-PR), Everton (Corinthians) and Cássio (Guarani)

Defenders: Sidnei (Internacional), Raphael (Flamengo) and Leandro (Coritiba)

Midfielders: Diego (Santos), Peca (Flamengo), Rafael Souza (Grêmio), Mayaro (Fluminense), Rodriguinho ( Botafogo), Sérgio (São Paulo) and Tarta (Fluminense)

Strikers: Luís Gustavo (Figueirense), Renan (Atlético-MG) and Dentinho (Corinthians)