Dunga Snubs Amauri Yet Again

Normally this isn’t news but merely a reminder that international football is on its way again. However, this one is fairly big because of Brazil’s opponents for their February 10th friendly: Italy. Italy being the other country Amauri is willing to play his international football for – which is a major part of the reason he’s the best player in the world not to have an international cap. He’s a whore. He was when he was transfer listed in the summer and he is when it comes to international football too. He’ll play for anyone, and that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.

But this was Dunga’s big chance to lock up the mere option of Amauri and give Italy a big old middle finger. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

What’s most surprising is not necessarily Amauri’s snub but Adriano’s inclusion. He’s played well over the last few weeks, if only sporadically, but had contributed precisely nothing for most of the year and will be serving a three game suspension – he’s prone to those – for a moment of sheer stupidity just 24 hours ago.:

So instead of Amauri, Italy’s fifth leading goal scorer, Dunga called up this guy, who’s scored two all year and will be bringing whatever form one can muster in the stands on suspension for the Italy friendly. Still but a friendly, yet also a game between the two nations with the largest World Cup hauls. That’s as big as “friendlies” get.

Dunga’s reasoning is half suspect, half sound:

“Amaury is a great player, but everyone has to wait for the right moment,” Dunga said. “He did not perform well in his last two matches and we think that the match against Italy would add too much pressure on him.”

Did not perform well in his last two matches? Please. Two games does not make a player and this game is not about form. Adriano punched a guy in his last game, yet he gets called up.

The other part, however, does make sense. Amauri’s selection would make this game something of a spectacle it doens’t need to be; putting added pressure on both himself and Dunga, particularly if he shows up at camp and craps the bed.

How this plays out remains to be seen, but regardless of reasoning, Amauri must be more and more anxious for his Italian passport to show up in the mail.

Brazil Squad:

Keepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan/ITA), Doni (AS Roma/ITA)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan/ITA), Daniel Alves (Barcelona/ESP), Lucio (Bayern Munich/GER), Juan (AS Roma/ITA), Thiago Silva (AC Milan/ITA), Luisao (Benfica/POR), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP), Adriano Correia (Sevilla/ESP)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos/GRE), Josue (Wolfsburg/GER), Anderson (Manchester United/ENG), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina/ITA), Elano (Manchester City/ENG), Julio Baptista (AS Roma/ITA), Ronaldinho (AC Milan/ITA), Kaka (AC Milan/ITA)

Strikers: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan/ITA), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla/ESP), Adriano (Inter Milan/ITA), Robinho (Manchester City/ENG)

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