Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho has been called up to the Brazil squad after the withdrawal of Chelsea’s Oscar and Ramires.
The 23-year-old was a surprising omission from Dunga’s original squad for next week’s friendlies against Costa Rica and the United States, a decision that was described as “unbelievable” by the Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers. However, injuries to Ramires and Oscar have opened the door for Coutinho, who will be also joined in the squad by Barcelona’s Rafinha.
Brazil will face Costa Rica on 5 September in New Jersey before travelling to Boston to face the US on 8 September – four days before Liverpool meet Manchester United in the Premier League.
Rafinha, brother of the Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcântara, is in line to make his debut having previously represented Spain at youth level.
