Internet Desk: A new generation of Brazil stars will take to the stage when they face Ecuador in their opening Copa America match.
Douglas Costa, Kaka, Luiz Gustavo, Rafinha, Ricardo Oliveira and Ederson have all dropped out of manager Dunga’s 23-man squad, while Neymar has been rested for the centenary edition of the tournament.
The Barcelona forward will stay at home and prepare for the Olympic Games, which get under way in Rio later this summer.
“Obviously we’d like to have Neymar here, but this is a top team,” Dunga said.
“Some of them are very young, but they have quality. This is an opportunity for these players to show they deserve to be in the first team.”
Paris Saint-Germain duo Thiago Silva and David Luiz will not feature while Marcelo, triumphant in the Champions League final with Real Madrid last weekend, is also not in South America.
Chelsea’s Willian is set to be the only representative from the Premier League.
Brazil have failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals at the previous two editions of the Copa America but, along with their opponents on Saturday, are expected to make it out of a group which also features Peru and Haiti.
Ecuador, who have not progressed from the group stages since 1997, have enjoyed a strong start to their World Cup qualifying campaign and are second in their group.
Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia remains their key man, while Enner Valencia of West Ham and Swansea’s Jefferson Montero are also likely to play.