|
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazil coach Tite has called up Bayer Leverkusen left-back Wendell and Atletico Mineiro midfielder Rafael Carioca for the Selecao's World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela next month.
The uncapped pair replaced injured Real Madrid duo Marcelo and Casemiro, the Brazilian football confederation said on Monday.
Casemiro is expected to miss up to a month with a fractured fibula while Marcelo is sidelined with a calf injury.
Brazil will host Bolivia in Natal on October 6 before an away clash against Venezuela in Merida five days later.
The five-time World Cup winners are currently second in the South American zone qualifying standings with 15 points from eight matches, one point behind Uruguay.
The top four teams at the end of the two-year qualifying campaign will book a berth at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff spot.
