Rio de Janeiro, March 7 (IANS): The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced that Orlando City's attacking midfielder Kaka has been cut from the national squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay, to be replaced by Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.
Kaka, the 2002 FIFA World Cup winner, was cut from the squad after suffering an injury during training with the MLS club, according to Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo. CBF on Sunday announced that Firmino will come into the squad, reports Xinhua.
Firmino, 24, was on the scoresheet in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the English Premier League on Sunday afternoon. He will join up with the squad on March 21 in Granja Comary, Teresopolis, near here.
Brazil take on Uruguay on March 25 at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife before facing Paraguay in Asuncion four days later.
The five-time world champions currently sit third in the qualifying group, with seven points from four games.