Brazil Names Thiago and Rayan in World Cup Squad Call-Ups Brazil’s national team has announced the inclusion of Brentford striker Igor Thiago and Bournemouth winger Rayan in their squad for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia. The call-ups mark the first international appearances for both players, who have impressed in the Premier League this season. Former Norwich attacker Gabriel Sara has also been selected for the first time, though the squad is missing key forward Neymar, who is not fit for the matches. Coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar’s absence is due to his lack of full recovery, stating, “I haven’t called him up because he’s not 100 percent. But for the final World Cup squad, that’s another story.” The friendlies against France on 26 March and Croatia on 31 March will serve as the last matches before Ancelotti finalizes his World Cup roster. Thiago, 24, has emerged as a standout performer for Brentford, scoring 19 goals in the Premier League this season—second only to Erling Haaland’s 22. His contributions helped Brentford secure seventh place in the league table. The Brazilian joined the club in July 2024 for a record £30m fee from Club Brugge but faced injury challenges in his debut season, limiting him to eight appearances. Rayan, 19, has made an immediate impact since joining Bournemouth in January for £24.7m from Vasco de Gama. The young winger has already netted two Premier League goals, showcasing his potential as a future star. Meanwhile, Sara, 26, has had a successful transition to Turkish football, joining Galatasaray in July 2024 and winning the Turkish Super League in his first season with the club.#brentford #carlo_ancelotti #neymar #rayan #igor_thiago
New Face in Brazil's Preliminary Squad: Ancelotti Plans to Scout at the World Cup The Brazilian National Team has added a new player to its preliminary squad for upcoming friendlies, with forward Rayan making his debut on the list. The 23-year-old, who previously played for Vasco and is now with Bournemouth, has been included in the call-up for matches against France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando. This marks Rayan’s first appearance on the squad, and he has already made an impact since joining Bournemouth, scoring two goals and providing one assist in six appearances. He was not a starting selection in his debut but has since earned his place in the preliminary group. In addition to Rayan, two other forwards are being considered for potential inclusion in the World Cup squad. Endrick, who has made 10 appearances for Lyon this season, has scored five goals and recorded three assists. Igor Thiago, meanwhile, has been a standout performer for Brentford, playing 30 matches and scoring 19 goals, with 18 of those coming in the Premier League. Thiago’s tally places him second in the league behind Erling Haaland, who has 22 goals. Both players are seen as key prospects for Brazil’s World Cup campaign. The call-up for the friendlies against France and Croatia is set for March 16 at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco is scheduled for June 13 at 7 p.m. Brasília time in the United States. The team will also face Scotland and Haiti in Group C of the tournament. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in Portuguese here.#france #brasilian_national_team #rayan #bournemouth #croatia
