Brazil pair miss Ireland clash
Monday, 4 February 2008Kaka and Alexandre Pato will miss Brazil's upcoming friendly against the Republic of Ireland after the duo were forced to pull out of the squad due to injury.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced Kaka will be absent on Wednesday due to an injury to his left knee, while Pato is ruled out with a twisted right ankle.
Pato picked up his injury after scoring the winner in AC Milan's 1-0 win at Fiorentina last night.
Brazil coach Dunga has called up Werder Bremen's Diego and Besiktas striker Bobo to replace Kaka and Pato.
Pato, widely regarded as one of the most promising players in world football, will undergo further tests on Tuesday to confirm the extent of the injury.
However, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti fears Pato could be sidelined for some time.
'Pato has sustained a sprain in his left ankle and it is something serious,' said Ancelotti. 'We will have to wait 48 hours to find out more.'
Dunga had earlier already named Werder Bremen defender Naldo as a replacement for injured Bayern Munich centre-back Lucio.
Brazil squad to face Ireland: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Renan (Internacional), Leonardo Moura (Flamengo), Rafinha (Schalke), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Breno (Bayern Munich), Naldo (Werder Bremen), Luisao (Benfica), Alex (Chelsea), Gilberto (Arsenal), Hernanes (Sao Paulo), Josue (Wolfsburg), Lucas (Liverpool), Richarlyson (Sao Paulo), Anderson (Man Utd), Thiago Neves (Fluminense), Julio Baptista (Real Madrid), Robinho (Real Madrid), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Rafael Sobis (Real Betis).
