Liverpool duo miss Brazil cut

Liverpool midfielders Phillipe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva, AC Milan playmaker Kaka, below, and Atletico Mineiro forward Ronaldinho were among the big names to miss out as Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari unveiled his 23-man World Cup squad yesterday.

Sao Paulo’s on-loan Corinthians forward Alexandre Pato and Paris St-Germain winger Lucas Moura were also overlooked, with Scolari keeping faith with most of the players who triumphed at last year’s Confederations Cup on home soil.

There was better news for six England-based players, though, with Chelsea quartet David Luiz, Oscar, Willian and Ramires, Manchester City’s Fernandinho and Tottenham’s Paulinho all called up.