Casemiro, Marcelo excluded from Brazil squad

Rio de Janeiro, Sep 26 (IANS) Injured Real Madrid pair Casemiro and Marcelo have been excluded from Brazil's squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela, national coach Tite confirmed.

Casemiro is expected to miss up to a month with a fractured fibula while Marcelo is sidelined with a calf injury, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

"I have already decided who will replace them and their names will be announced on Monday," Tite said in an interview with TV Globo on Sunday.

Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa will also be absent with a hamstring injury and was last week replaced by Shakhtar Donetsk forward Taison.

Brazil will host Bolivia in Natal on October 6 before an away clash against Venezuela in Merida five days later.

The five-time World Cup winners are currently second in the South American zone qualifying standings with 15 points from eight matches, one point behind Uruguay.

--IANS

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