BRAZIL 2014 COUNTDOWN: Brazil's 23-man squad

Brazil's 23-man squad for the World Cup is announced as Luiz Felipe Scolari leaves out Philippe Coutinho, Lucas and Kaka

• Six Premier League players in Luiz Felipe Scolari's 23-man squad, including five of the seven midfielders.
• No room for Liverpool pair Lucas Leiva and Philippe Coutinho, nor Kaka.
• Robinho, Miranda, Lucas Moura and Felipe Luis other notable absentees.
• Tournament begins in Sao Paulo on 12 June and runs until 13 July, with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon in Group A with Brazil.

Luis Felipe Scolari today named the squad he hopes can deliver glory for Brazil on home soil and had a sharp response for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in the process.

The Brazil manager included six Premier League-based players in his 23-man panel but couldn't find room for Liverpool pair Lucas and Philippe Coutinho, the duo among a host of big European names to miss out.

With an astonishing 17 World Cup rookies in his panel, Scolari, a World Cup winner with his country in 2002, opted against bringing along out-of-favour tournament veterans like Kaka or Robinho back into the fold.

BRAZIL'S 23-MAN SQUAD FOR THE WORLD CUP

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC, on loan from QPR), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro).

Defenders: Dani Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (Roma), David Luiz (Chelsea), Thiago Silva (PSG), Dante (Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Henrique (Napoli), Maxwell (PSG).

Midfield: Oscar (Chelsea), Fernandinho (Man City), Willian (Chelsea), Paulinho (Spurs), Ramires (Chelsea), Luis Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Hernanes (Inter Milan).

Attackers: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Jo (Atletico Mineiro).