Liverpool star Roberto Firmino has been called up to the Brazil national team ahead of the two upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Argentina on November 10, in Belo Horizonte and Peru five days later in Lima.
Firmino was not the only Reds player to be called up, Philippe Coutinho has also been included in the squad. There are a total of four Premier League players in the call-up including Fernandinho from Manchester City and Willian from Chelsea.
Firmino shared a picture from training and revealed in his caption that he is ‘very excited’ about his call up but underlined that they will be tough games.
Very excited about the nomination for the #SeleçãoBrasileira. ?? Two tough games. Of course the one against Argentina is really special.??? pic.twitter.com/Pfrjhbki7r
— Roberto_Firmino (@Roberto_Firmino) October 21, 2016
Firmino has a total of four goals and three assists in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
Brazil are currently first in the South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup on 21 points after 10 games. The group is tightly poised as Uruguay are second on 20 points and Eduador are tied with Colombia on 17 points in joint third.
Argentina – who will take on Brazil next month – are currently fifth on 16 points and could really do with a win against their rivals to get back on track.
The full Brazil national team squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers
Alex Muralha (Flamengo/Brazil)
Alisson (Roma/Italy)
Weverton (Atlético Paranaense/Brazil)
Defenders
Daniel Alves (Juventus/Italy)
Fagner (Corinthians/Brazil)
Filipe Luís (Atletico Madrid/Spain)
Marcelo (Real Madrid/Spain)
Gil (Shandong Luneng/China)
Marquinhos (PSG/France)
Miranda (Inter Milan/Italy)
Thiago Silva (PSG/France)
Rodrigo Caio (São Paulo/Brazil)
Midfielders
Casemiro (Real Madrid/Spain) – listed as “questionable”
Fernandinho (Manchester City/England)
Giuliano (Zenit/Russia)
Lucas Lima (Santos/Brazil)
Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande/China)
Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/England)
Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoa/China)
Willian (Chelsea/England)
Forwards
Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich/Germany)
Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras/Brazil)
Neymar (Barcelona/Spain)
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/England)