Brazilian President confident of coach's World Cup squad

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-12 09:28

BRASILIA - Brazilian sports minister Orlando Silva said on Tuesday that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed "confidence" in the national soccer team summoned by coach Dunga to play at South Africa World Cup 2010, whose members were announced earlier on Tuesday.

"The president followed the announcement of the selection and expressed confidence that the team will have a good result in the Cup," the minister told reporters.

On Dunga's decision not to call the new stars of the Brazilian championship Neymar and Ganso, players from Santos, requested by many fans, he responded that now it is necessary to support the selection.

"(The coach) favored the athletes who worked with him since the beginning of the preparation of the Brazilian team. He bet on stability, there was no novelty. Now it is necessary to support this selection, Dunga did an important job," he said.

The minister said that President Lula da Silva considered positive the composition of the selection and supports the coaching staff for the initiative.

The selection had some controversial decisions, in addition to the exclusion of players from Santos, the absence of Flamengo striker Adriano, and the stars of Milan, Ronaldino Gaucho and Pato.

The 23 invited to go to South Africa are: Julio Cesar, Gomes, Doni, Maicon, Dani Alves, Gilberto, Michel Bastos, Juan, Lucio, Luisao, Thiago Silva, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Josue, Kleberson, Elano, Ramires, Kaka, Julio Baptista, Luis Fabiano, Nilmar, Robinho and Grafite.