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Brazil recall Mauro Silva despite Copa America walk-out
( 2001-08-22 10:19 ) (7 )

Midfielder Mauro Silva, who pulled out of the Copa America minutes before the Brazilian squad boarded the plane for Colombia, was recalled on Tuesday for the World Cup qualifier away to Argentina.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he had had a long conversation with the Deportivo Coruna player, who was due to captain Brazil's team in Colombia, about the extraordinary incident at Sao Paulo airport in July.

Mauro Silva had checked in, picked up his boarding card and dispatched his luggage when he suddenly decided to back out, saying he did not feel that Colombia should host the tournament.

Commentators had wondered whether the 34-year-old, who was in Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team but was not picked four years later, would be given another chance after his last minute about turn.

"He has leadership and composure on the field and off the field is an example," said Scolari.

The Copa America went ahead in Colombia despite fears about security.

Mauro Silva was among 14 foreign-based players named for the match in Buenos Aires on September 5.

Brazil are fourth in the South American qualifying group from which four teams qualify and the fifth plays off against Oceania region winners Australia. Leaders Argentina have already qualified.

"I continue to think that Brazil has a good team and we can face Argentina on equal terms," said Scolari. "There are no favourites in this game."

MORALE BOOSTER

Scolari said this month's 2-0 win over Paraguay had been a tremendous morale-booster for his team but the four-times world champions still had a long way to go to restore the prestige which has been lost since the 1998 World Cup.

"We've gone four and five steps down the ladder and it's going to take more than one match to get us back up there," he said. "We have a long way to go to regain our credibility."

Scolari was repeatedly asked to justify the inclusion of Eduardo Costa, a defensive midfielder whose performances have been criticised by the media.

"Who's been criticising him? Not me," said Scolari.

"Ah, it's the media. But I'm the one who picks the team. If the media picked the team, I'd have to choose 3,500 players because there are so many interests, I'd have to pick the friends of one, the favourites of another and so on."

Scolari also became irritated when asked why he had left out striker Ronaldinho Gaucho.

"(Former Brazil coach) Tele Santana always said he would not talk about players who are not picked. So I'm learning from the maestros," he said.

Goalkeeper - Dida (AC Milan)

Defenders - Cafu (AS Roma), Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen), Junior (Parma), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders - Emerson Ferreira (AS Roma), Mauro Silva (Deportivo Coruna), Eduardo Costa (Girondins Bordeaux), Juninho Pernambucano (Olympique Lyon), Marcelinho Paraiba (Hertha Berlin)

Strikers - Elber (Bayern Munich), Denilson (Real Betis), Rivaldo (Barcelona)