Kaka vows to earn Brazil World Cup berth

Rio de Janeiro, March 19 (IANS)

Kaka has vowed to do “everything he can” to regain his place as a regular starter in Brazil’s national football team ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup.

The 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year was absent from Brazil’s 1-2 loss to England at Wembley Stadium on Feb 6, but has been recalled for friendlies against Italy on Thursday and Russia four days later, reports Xinhua.

Thursday’s clash in Geneva will be the 30-year-old’s first match with the national team since Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed Brazil coach for a second time following the sacking of Mano Menezes in November.

Kaka is the only player in Scolari’s current 23-man squad to have played under the 64-year-old during Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph in Japan and South Korea.

“It’s going to be great to go back and work with him,” Kaka told Brazil’s Estado de S Paulo. “I hope that we can work together all the way to the World Cup.

“Time is short and I am focused on doing everything I can to guarantee my spot.”