Brazil recalls Douglas Costa, Marcelo and Casemiro for Argentina clash

Brazil coach Tite has recalled Douglas Costa, Marcelo and Casemiro to his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Peru.

Costa missed the past two international breaks because of injury, meaning the Bayern Munich star is in line for his first appearances under Tite, who was appointed Brazil coach in June.

Real Madrid pair Marcelo and Casemiro have enjoyed strong starts to the domestic season in Spain and return after missing Brazil's last two matches with respective calf and fibula problems.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar is the only major omission, as he is dropped and replaced by Sao Paulo center back Rodrigo Caio.

Gabriel Jesus and Neymar will again shoulder much of the burden in attack and Tite has told the Barcelona star to rise above rough treatment from defenders after an elbow from Bolivia's Yasmani Duk left him with a bloodied face earlier this month.

"You know how many times I thought about replacing Neymar in that second half? About 10 times," Tite told reporters. "But this is a process of maturity that he needs to feel in the skin. I said to him: 'Hey, Neymar, forget the card. Leave this with me. Go play, shoot and dribble. In the first third of the field, you are not safe either, play and pass faster, but in attack you can play in the way you want.'

"It is a maturity process. Firstly, I'm sure Neymar went to the right club. He's in a very good situation and I'm sure he will improve. He has to absorb it [rough treatment] because he has a unique talent. He has to ignore it."

Brazil will be the favorite when it hosts bitter rival Argentina in Belo Horizonte on Nov. 11, with Edgardo Bauza's men fifth and five points behind the leaders, but Tite is wary of one man in particular.

"Messi and Neymar are in the top three [players in the world], you know," he added. "Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] are more similar, of the same generation — they have similar ages. Neymar is younger, is maturing and growing, evolving. Today, for me, Messi is the best player in the world."

Brazil heads to Peru five days later for what will be its final qualifier until March.

Brazil squad in full: 

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Alex Muralha (Flamengo), Weverton (Atletico Paranaense).

Defenders: Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo), Thiago Silva (PSG), Daniel Alves (Juventus), Fagner (Corinthians), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Giuliano (Zenit), Lucas Lima (Santos), Paulinho (Guanghzou Evergrande), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Willian (Chelsea).

Forwards: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras), Neymar (Barcelona).

More games: friv

Neymar, Willian, Miranda set for Brazil Olympic call-up

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Brazil coach Dunga has reportedly chosen Barcelona forward Neymar, Chelsea midfielder Willian and Inter Milan centre-back Miranda as his three experienced players for the Olympic Games in August.

According to the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, Neymar and Willian have been cleared to compete in Rio by their clubs, who are not compelled to release their players for the tournament.

But it is understood Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is yet to give his approval for Miranda.

In the event Mancini vetoes Miranda's participation, Dunga will forgo an experienced defender by calling up Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa, the report said.

Under Olympic football rules, teams are allowed only three players over the age of 23 in their squads.

The Olympic men's football tournament begins on August 4, just five weeks after the final of the centenary edition of the Copa America in the US.

Brazil were forced to leave Neymar out of their Copa America squad after Barcelona refused to allow the 24-year-old to play in both tournaments.

An Olympic gold medal is the only major international football accolade that Brazil have never won and Dunga has been told by the country's football confederation to make the tournament his top priority this year.

The Selecao have been drawn in Group A of the Rio 2016 tournament alongside South Africa, Iraq and Denmark.

Douglas Costa warns Bayern's rivals: It'll be even harder to beat us with Renato Sanches & Hummels!

The Brazil international feels the club's two new signings will make his team even stronger and says that Pep Guardiola is the best coach he has ever worked with in his career

Douglas Costa has warned Bayern Munich’s rivals that his side will be even harder to beat next season with Renato Sanches and Mats Hummels in their ranks.

The Bundesliga champions announced the signing of both players this week with highly-rated Sanches joining from Benfica and Hummels swapping Borussia Dortmund for Allianz Arena.

At just 18 Sanches is one of Europe’s hottest young talents and Costa feels he has a bright future ahead of him and, along with Hummels, will make Bayern a more fearsome proposition.

"I don’t know him [Sanches] as a person. But we played against Benfica in the Champions League, so I know that he is a good player," he told Goal.

"He has a great future ahead of him. I think he will integrate as well as [Kingsley] Coman or I did. I will be here to help him, as other team-mates did with me.

"It will be more difficult for other clubs now. We are very strong already, so it won't be easy to get even better. But the new signings will definitely help us."

Costa only joined Bayern back in July from Shakhtar Donetsk but cannot hide his delight about his move to Germany, where he has won the title in his first season.

"It was fantastic. Bayern changed my life, that's what I say again and again," he added. "I have been received very well, everyone cared about me, the club and the players.

"Here I can play with at a historic club with fantastic footballers, it’s just amazing. I'm very grateful."

Coach Pep Guardiola will depart Allianz Arena this summer for Manchester City and Costa admits the Spaniard has had a big impact on his career.

"Pep is the best coach I ever had. Every day I learn new things. He changed my game completely," he explained.

"Previously I just defended, with Guardiola and Bayern I attack. I don't play just one on one and score goals, I also assist.

"He showed me to trust in my attacking qualities and to keep a cool mind. That didn’t only change my game at Bayern, but also in the national team. Guardiola’s philosophy with much control and having the ball the most time fits my style of play very well."

Costa also revealed how he feels he has improved working under Guardiola and admits he was surprised at how quickly he adjusted to life in the Bundesliga.

"Everything, just everything. Because of Pep I am a much better player. In tactical terms, offence or defence, my passing. To find the right spaces," he said.

"I've been surprised myself about my performances. To settle in so fast and to play with such great team-mates and become German champions – for me it was perfect."