Ronaldinho out, Kaka in for Brazil

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6 March 2013-PA Sport

Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has dropped Ronaldinho ahead of this month's friendly matches against Russia and Italy, but there was a recall for another veteran playmaker in Kaka.

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Scolari brought Ronaldinho out of the cold for his first game back in charge of the national side but the Atletico Mineiro forward was not at his best in a 2-1 defeat to England and has not been retained.

Real Madrid's Kaka was left out of the trip to Wembley but has profited from Ronaldinho's exclusion and returns in a 22-man party.

Both friendlies are in neutral venues, with the Italy match in Geneva, Switzerland on March 21 and the Russia clash following four days later at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.

The second fixture will therefore be a home match for Blues trio David Luiz, Ramires and Oscar, all of whom are included.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is also London-based since his move to Queens Park Rangers earlier this season.

A total of seven players from the Brazilian league have been called up, led by Santos striker Neymar.

Brazil squad: J Cesar (QPR), D Cavallieri (Fluminense) D Alves (Barcelona), T Silva (Paris St Germain), Dede (Vasco da Gama), Dante (Bayern Munich), D Luiz (Chelsea), Marcelo (Real Madrid), F Luis (Atletico Madrid), Paulinho (Corinthians), Fernando (Gremio), Ramires (Chelsea), Jean (Fluminense), L Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Hernanes (Lazio), Kaka (Real Madrid), Oscar (Chelsea), Neymar (Santos), L Moura (Paris St Germain), Fred (Fluminense), D Costa (Atletico Madrid), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).