World Cup Qualifiers: Marcelo, Marquinhos To Miss Crucial Match Against Argentina

Central defender Marquinhos and left back Marcelo will both miss Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Peru later this month, the Brazilian federation announced on Friday.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos and Marcelo of Real Madrid “have not been called up … due to injury”, a federation statement read.

Marquinhos is out with a hamstring injury which also kept him out of PSG’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday, while Marcelo has a thigh muscle problem picked up in that clash.

Brazil manager Dunga has called up Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista and Atletico Madrid’s Douglas Santos as replacements.

He will also welcome back Barcelona’s Neymar now he has purged his four-match suspension picked up in the Copa America.

Having lost their first qualifying match 2-0 to South American champions Chile, the Brazilians picked up their first World Cup points with a 3-1 win over Venezuela last month.

They are currently fifth in their group behind leaders Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Paraguay.

They play Argentina in Buenos Aires on November 12, followed by a home game against Peru in Salvador five days later.

By AFP