Rafinha has expressed his delight at being named in the Brazil squad, while Carlos Alberto Parreira has explained the surprise decision.
The Bayern Munich full-back, who represented his country at Under-20 and Under-23 level, won his only senior international cap in 2008, but was included in the party for the friendly in South Africa on March 5.
I’m very happy at being called up by the national team, the 28-year-old Rafinha wrote on Twitter. I promise to honour the shirt like I always have! Thanks to everybody who always supported me.
Maicon had been the second right-back in the previous Brazil squad for the friendlies against Honduras and Chile in November, alongside first-choice Daniel Alves.
(Scolari) made it clear that the basic idea was to observe at leas…
The Royal Morocco Football Federation (FMRF) has lodged a complaint to FIFA over referee Cesar Ramos performance during their World Cup semi-final defeat to France.
Morocco lost Wednesday s game 2-0 after goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani sent reigning champions France through to a second consecutive World Cup final.
However, there were a number of contentious decisions during the match, with Morocco s players first incensed when winger Sofiane Boufal collided with Hernandez in the France box.
The referee opted to award Les Bleus a free-kick instead of a Morocco penalty before booking Boufal, provoking a furious reaction from Walid Regragui s men.
Substitute Selim Amallah was then dragged down in the France area as he awaited a free-kick del…
New Newcastle United managing director Lee Charnley has pledged to continue the club s financially responsible approach to transfers.
Newcastle announced Charnley s new role on Monday, after he previously held the role of football secretary at St James Park, as well as being a director since 2008.
The role of managing director was previously held by Derek Llambias, who resigned his position in June 2013, shortly after Joe Kinnear had been appointed director of football, though he too has since departed the club.
In a further reshuffle, owner Mike Ashley has been officially appointed onto the club s board of directors, alongside Charnley and finance director John Irving.
Charnley stated that transfer plans for the close-season have already begun, with fans looking…
Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the 1-0 Bundesliga defeat to Cologne on Sunday.
The 18-year-old is expected to be out of action for several months after an MRI scan showed the extent of the damage to his left knee.
The attacking midfielder twisted awkwardly on the turf just 28 minutes into the game at the BayArena, which was settled by Kingsley Schindler s second-half goal.
Wirtz is one of the highest-rated young players in Europe and has been linked with transfers to the likes of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
He already has four senior caps for Germany, having made his debut last September, and would have been in contention to make the squad for the 2022 World Cup.
With 10 goa…
Manchester City are interested in signing Reece James from Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to . The report has claimed that City, who won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup last season, are in talks with Chelsea over a move for James.
Chelsea do not want to sell James, but given the injury problems that the right-back has suffered over the years, the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners could cash in on him if they get a big offer. The 23-year-old has made 99 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. The right-back has scored seven goals, given 14 assists, and kept 20 clean sheets in those games.
City are at the top of the Premier League table at the moment with 15 points from five matches. Meanwhile, C…
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claims the extent of Diogo Jota s injury is not yet clear, although the Portuguese forward will definitely miss their Premier League clash with Norwich City at Anfield.
Jota was replaced by Roberto Firmino in the Reds 2-0 Champions League win at Inter after picking up a knock to his ankle, with the substitute going on to net the opening goal of the contest from Andy Robertson s corner.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool s fixture against Norwich, against whom Liverpool have won 13 of their last 15 Premier League games, Klopp was unsure as to when Jota was likely to return.
No, he will not be available [for this weekend s clash with Norwich]. But the extent is still not clear, Klopp said.
We need further assessment, it s something …
Dinamo Zagreb captain Domagoj Antolic apologised to fans after their remarkable unbeaten league run at home was ended by Osijek on Saturday.
An early goal from Josip Knezevic inflicted upon Dinamo their first league loss at Stadion Maksimir since a 2-1 reverse to Rijeka on July 31, 2010, ending a run of 103 matches without defeat.
The Croatian champions face a stern test on Wednesday against Lyon in their opening Champions League Group H match, having suffered a 7-1 thrashing in their last encounter in December 2011.
Antolic admitted that the 1-0 loss to Osijek came as a shock but is determined to ensure his team-mates are fully focused on Lyon, who themselves saw a 12-game unbeaten home run ended by Saturday s 3-1 loss to Bordeaux.
We re all sorry about…
Blackburn Rovers F.C. have completed the signing of England Under-21 defender Michael Keane on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season, according to .
Keane, 21, has previously spent time on loan at Leicester City (2012/13) and Derby County (2013/14), tallying two goals in 31 Championship appearances.
The highly-rated centre-back, who has scored three goals in eight international caps for England s Under-21 side, last played for United against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup on 31 October 2012.
On that day, Keane partnered Scott Wootton, now at Leeds United, in central defence for the Reds Devils and Chelsea won 5-4 in a pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge.
After days of speculation, Blackburn priced at to win promotion to …
A gritty defensive display helped Western Sydney Wanderers escape Seoul with a 0-0 draw in their AFC Champions League semi-final first leg.
The Wanderers held firm to restrict the hosts to few chances and will head back to Parramatta in a fortnight confident of getting the job done.
Without strikers Tomi Juric and Brendon Santalab – as well as winger Shannon Cole – through suspension, Tony Popovic s side struggled to create many opportunities and were held scoreless for the first time in the competition.
But they were resolute in defence and now know a win in their home leg in two weeks will make them just the second Australian club after Adelaide United in 2008 to make the Champions League final.
After enjoying large chunks of possession early on, th…
Chambly shocked Strasbourg to reach the semi-finals of the Coupe de France on Wednesday, joining Les Herbiers as an unexpected presence in the last four.
Lassana Doucoure was the hero for Chambly, finishing from close range to score the only goal of the game with seven minutes to go and book a semi-final spot for the third-tier side.
Strasbourg were the first Ligue 1 side beaten by Chambly on their run to the semi-finals, where they join fellow Championnat National side Les Herbiers.
On Tuesday, Stephane Masala s men knocked out Lens of Ligue 2 on penalties, triumphing 4-2 in the shoot-out after a goalless draw at Stade de la Beaujoire.
It is the second time two sides from outside the top two divisions have reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de Fra…