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Injured Real Madrid duo cut from Brazil squad

Xinhua, September 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Injured Real Madrid pair Casemiro and Marcelo have been cut from Brazil's squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela, national coach Tite said on Sunday.

Casemiro is expected to miss up to a month with a fractured fibula while Marcelo is sidelined with a calf injury.

"I have already decided who will replace them and their names will be announced on Monday," Tite said in an interview with TV Globo.

Tite has now been forced to make three changes to his original squad for the October qualifiers.

Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa will also be absent with a hamstring injury and was last week replaced by Shakhtar Donetsk forward Taison.

Brazil will host Bolivia in Natal on October 6 before an away clash against Venezuela in Merida five days later.

The five-time World Cup winners are currently second in the South American zone qualifying standings with 15 points from eight matches, one point behind Uruguay.

The top four teams at the end of the two-year qualifying campaign will book their berths at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff spot. Endit