Brazil axe Kaka, Ronaldinho for Confederations Cup

WORLD Cup winners Ronaldinho and Kaka were both left out of Brazil’s Confederations Cup squad yesterday as coach Luiz Felipe Scolari opted for youth ahead of experience.

Manchester United full-back Rafael and Chelsea midfielder Ramires were also excluded for next month’s tournament and there was no place for former AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato.

Scolari has made it clear that most of the players at the Confederations Cup will form the basis of his World Cup squad next year, when Brazil attempt to win a sixth world title on home soil. The biggest surprise was the inclusion of 20-year-old Atletico Mineiro striker Bernard, who has only one cap.