Brazil's national soccer team manager, Carlos Alberto Parreira, announced his
list of 23 players for the 2006 Germany World Cup to the press on Monday.
The manager included mid-fielder Ronaldinho Gaucho, who has been voted the
best player in the world, and veteran defender Cafu, who will captain the squad,
and who has been in every Brazilian World Cup team for 16 years.
Going by shirt numbers Brazil's attack will be lead by Adriano, who plays for
Italian league team, Inter Milan, wearing No. 7, and Ronaldo Nazario, who plays
for Spanish league team Real Madrid, wearing No. 9.
Only two of the 23-man squad play for local teams: Sao Paulo goalkeeper
Rogerio Ceni and Corinthians mid-fielder Ricardinho.
Central defender Roque Junior, who is injured, and defender Marcos were
excluded from the World Cup team, even though they helped Brazil to its fifth
World Cup victory in the 2002 Japan and South Korea contest.
Parreira had said several days ago that his list would be without surprises
because fans already knew who the main players would be, and how difficult it
would to pick others in their place.