Advertising Read more Rio de Janeiro (AFP) Real Madrid's teenage attacking sensation Vinicius Junior was called up to Tite's Brazil squad for the first time on Thursday in the last national team gathering ahead of the Copa America. The 18-year-old has made a huge impact at the Santiago Bernabeu since moving from home town club Flamengo at the start of the season. Although he began this campaign in Real's B team, Vinicius has quickly risen to an almost guaranteed first team starter since Santiago Solari replaced Julen Lopetegui. He has not just been Real's most dangerous attacking player since, he's also the main reason Wales star Gareth Bale is struggling to get into the team. Brazil will play two friendlies in March against Panama, in Portugal on the 23rd, and away to the Czech Republic three days later. Vinicius's inclusion will create some excitement to offset the absence of Neymar, who has a broken foot and will be out until April. His club team-mate Marcelo finds himself dropped, though, just as he has been in Madrid. But fellow veteran Dani Alves, currently playing alongside Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain, makes his return to the squad, as does his team-mate Thiago Silva, who replaces Bordeaux's Pablo. West Ham's Filipe Anderson is rewarded for his fine Premier League form with his second ever call-up, the first coming in 2015. The Premier League provides eight members of the squad, more than any other championship, with Liverpool trio Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino, and Manchester City's Ederson, Danilo and Gabriel Jesus included. Only two players, Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton and Gremio forward Everton, ply their trade in their homeland. Brazil won their last two friendlies in November against Uruguay and Cameroon, both 1-0. The final squad for the Copa America will be announced in May, with hosts Brazil kicking off the tournament on June 14 against Bolivia in Sao Paulo. The final will be at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium on July 7. Squad: Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool/ENG), Ederson (Manchester City/ENG), Weverton (Palmeiras) Defenders: Alex Sandro (Juventus/ITA), Dani Alves (Paris SG/FRA), Danilo (Manchester City/ENG), Eder Militao (Porto/POR), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Marquinhos (Paris SG/FRA), Miranda (Inter Milan/ITA), Thiago Silva (Paris SG/FRA) Midfielders: Allan (Napoli/ITA), Arthur (Barcelona/ESP), Casemiro (Real Madrid/ESP), Fabinho (Liverpool/ENG), Felipe Anderson (West Ham/ENG), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan/ITA), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona/ESP) Forwards: Everton (Gremio), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/ENG), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City/ENG), Richarlison (Everton/ENG), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/ESP) © 2019 AFP<doc-sep>Real Madrid sensation Vinicius Junior earns first Brazil call-up Dani Alves is also back in the fold for March's Brasil Global Tour matches after more than a year away from the international set-up Vinicuis Junior has been named as part of a strong Brazil squad for March's Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour matches against Panama and Czech Republic. The Real Madrid star will be hoping to make his senior international debut following an impressive first season in Spain that has seen him emerge as one of the club’s most important players under new coach Santiago Solari. PSG right-back Dani Alves has also re-joined the squad and is set to make his first international appearance since suffering an injury shortly before World Cup 2018. Vinicius Junior has earned his first #Brasil call up Parabens @vini11Oficial pic.twitter.com/2Yw5HhQiOp — Brasil Global Tour (@BGT_ENG) February 28, 2019 There were also recalls for a couple of Olympic gold medallists in Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton and West Ham United midfielder Felipe Anderson, while Porto defender Eder Militao, PSG stopper Thiago Silva, AC Milan midfielder Lucas Paqueta and Gremio forward Everton are also in. Gabriel Brazao, Dede, Pablo, Marcelo, Paulinho, Walace, Willian and Douglas Costa were all left out. Captain Neymar will miss the matches to continue his recovery from a foot injury suffered with his club, Paris Saint-Germain. Porto, we're coming! Brazil vs Panama March 23, 2019 Estadio do Dragao Get your tickets NOW! pic.twitter.com/uEi3tBdpzt — Brasil Global Tour (@BGT_ENG) February 27, 2019 Brazil are coming to the end of the “first phase” of a three-stage cycle ahead of Qatar 2022 as focus turns to this year’s Copa America. March’s Brasil Global Tour double-header is the final opportunity for coach Tite to experiment before what is being billed as a must-win competition for the hosts. The five-time world champions face Panama at FC Porto’s Estadio do Dragao on March 23 before heading to Prague to face Czech Republic three days later. Brazil squad in full Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Man City), Weverton (Palmeiras). Centre-backs: Eder Militao (Porto), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter), Thiago Silva (PSG). Full-backs: Dani Alves (PSG) , Danilo (Man City), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus). Midfielders: Allan (Napoli), Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fabinho (Liverpool), Felipe Anderson (West Ham), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Coutinho (Barcelona). Forwards: Everton (Gremio) Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid). Follow a new era for Brazilian football by joining us on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .<doc-sep>For Marcelo, February has been one of the most difficult months of his career. The left-back has lost his regular place in the Real Madrid first team and has watched from the subs' bench how Sergio Reguilón has staked a claim in the back four. To make matters even worse, Brazil coach Tite has left him out of the latest squad list for the forthcoming games against Panama and Czech Republic - his club team Vinicius however, has been included. And if that wasn't enough, Transfermartk report that his market value has dropped considerably in recent weeks. Marcelo's future has been up in the air for some time - he could leave Madrid this summer and one possible destination could be Juventus where he would be runited with Cristiano Ronaldo. In December, he was valued at 70 million euros but since losing his place in the side, he is now believed to be worth half of that figure while Reguilón's market value, according to Transfermarkt,has shot from 7.5 million to 15 million euros. This season, Marcelo has played 24 of a possible 42 games for Real Madrid - just 57% and it's now looking like his days are numbered with Brazil too.<doc-sep>
Vinicius has been called into Brazil's senior squad for the first time ahead of next month's friendlies against Panama and Czech Republic. Vinicius has become key figure at Real Madrid The 18-year-old forward has become a key member of Real Madrid's first team under Santiago Solari since joining from Flamengo before the start of this season. Vinicius turned in another dazzling display against Barcelona in Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final, although his end product was lacking and the game finished in a 3-0 defeat for Madrid. But national team boss Tite has seen more than enough to be persuaded over the merits of adding the youngster to his forward line, while Vinicius' former Flamengo team-mate Lucas Paqueta has won a first call-up since joining AC Milan in the last transfer window. Tite sent his assistant coach Sylvinho to watch Vinicius and Paqueta in action recently and the duo's trip to Europe almost yielded an international return for Fernandinho. The Manchester City midfielder held talks with Tite and Sylvinho, agreeing to go back on his decision to retire from Brazil duty in the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup - only to suffer a hamstring injury during last weekend's EFL Cup triumph over Chelsea. The games against Panama in Porto on 23 March and versus Czech Republic in Prague three days later are the final opportunities Tite will have to see Brazil in action before his country hosts the 2019 Copa América. Brazil squad to face Panama and Czech Republic: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras); Dani Alves (Paris Saint-Germain), Danilo (Manchester City), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Eder Militao (Porto), Miranda (Inter), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain); Allan (Napoli), Felipe Anderson (West Ham), Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Everton (Gremio), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan); Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Richarlison (Everton), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).