Neymar and Oscar left out of Brazil's Copa America squad

Posted May 05, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Brazil's soccer coach Dunga arrives to a news conference to announce which of his players will play the Copa America Centenario, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 5, 2016. The Copa America Centenario will see the best national soccer teams from the American continent battle each other in the United States in June. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) The Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Barcelona star Neymar and Chelsea midfielder Oscar have been left off Brazil's squad for the Copa America in the United States next month.

Brazil coach Dunga accepted the Catalan club's request to use Neymar either at the Copa America or at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, and the Olympics won.

Oscar was on the Brazilian Football Confederation's preliminary list for the Copa America, but did not make the final cut. Other omitted players included Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), and Kaka (Orlando City).

Dunga's squad includes seven players under the age of 23, all of whom will be eligible for the Rio Games.

"We are bringing a competitive team for an important tournament," Dunga said on Thursday.

Brazil is in Group B with Ecuador, Haiti, and Peru, and starts its campaign on June 4 against Ecuador in Pasadena, California.

The competition, which is celebrating its centenary, will take place for the first time outside of South America.

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Brazil:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Internacional), Diego Alves (Valencia), Ederson (Benfica).

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Fabinho (Monaco), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro), Miranda (Inter Milan), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo).

Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Elias (Corinthians), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Rafinha (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Lucas Lima (Santos), Willian (Chelsea).

Forwards: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Hulk (Zenit), Ricardo Oliveira (Santos), Gabriel (Santos).

Brazil's soccer coach Dunga speaks during a news conference where he announced which of his players will play the Copa America Centenario, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 5, 2016. The Copa America Centenario will see the best national soccer teams from the American continent battle each other in the United States in June. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) The Associated Press

Brazil's soccer coach Dunga announces which of his players will play the Copa America Centenario, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 5, 2016. The Copa America Centenario will see the best national soccer teams from the American continent battle each other in the United States in June. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) The Associated Press

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