Brazil recall Ronaldinho, Kaka for Algeria friendly
Brazil recall Ronaldinho, Kaka for Algeria friendly
Their presence had been in doubt after opting out of the Copa America.

Rio de Janeiro/Buenos Aires: Ronaldinho and Kaka, who declined to take part at the Copa America, were recalled by Brazil on Tuesday for this month's friendly against Algeria.

The pair were both included in the 22-man squad named by coach Dunga for the match in Montpellier, France, on August 22.

Their presence had been in doubt after they asked not to play at the Copa America in Venezuela, claiming they were tired. Despite their absence, Brazil won the tournament, beating Argentina 3-0 in the final.

Argentina forward Javier Saviola and midfielder Maximiliano Rodriguez, who both missed the Copa America, were named in the Argetine squad for this month's friendly in Norway.

Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme and defender Gabriel Heinze, whose futures remain uncertain, were left out as was Carlos Tevez, who is set to join English Premier League champions Manchester United after a prolonged transfer saga.

Saviola, who recently joined Real Madrid, missed the Copa America after an unhappy season with Barcelona, where he struggled to get into the team. Rodriguez also missed the Copa America in Venezuela as he had just returned from a six-month injury layoff.

The match in Oslo will be Argentina's first since their traumatic 3-0 defeat by arch-rivals Brazil in the Copa America final on July 15.

Argentina went into the game as hot favourites after winning all five matches in the tournament and playing superb, attacking football along the way. But they slumped to their third successive three-goal loss to their bitter rivals, extending a 14-year title drought.

Captain Roberto Ayala, who won a record 115 caps, announced his international retirement after the final.

Riquelme, who scored five goals at the Copa but slumped in the final, does not feature in the plans of Spanish club Villarreal, who own him. Boca Juniors, where he played on loan in the first half of this year, are still hoping for a new deal.

Defender Fabriccio Coloccini was another player to earn a recall while coach Alfio Basile also included uncapped defender Ezequiel Garay and goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

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