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Brazil notice Valencia's Diego Alves

Xinhua, October 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

The record-breaking feats of Valencia's Diego Alves are not going unnoticed by Brazil's national team selectors, according to Selecao goalkeeping coach, Taffarel.

Alves broke the all-time record for La Liga penalty saves last month and stopped another two on Sunday when he denied Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and Gabi.

Alves has now saved 19 penalties in Spain's top-flight, two more than Barcelona great Andoni Zubizarreta.

Despite his form, the 31-year-old was not chosen in Brazil's squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia on Thursday and Venezuela five days later.

"Diego Alves has a lot of quality," said Taffarel, who won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil. "He wasn't playing at the start of the season and there was talk he might leave Valencia for Barcelona. But he ended up staying.

"He is great at stopping penalties and we are paying attention to him now that he is playing again, just like the other goalkeepers. He is on our list. We have a long list of names and he has always been there. Just because he isn't on the list today, doesn't mean that he won't be there tomorrow. In the future he could be selected again."

Alves has been capped just eight times for Brazil in his career that has been blighted by injuries.

Roma goalkeeper Alisson is expected to start for the Selecao against Bolivia on Thursday. The other goalkeepers in Brazil's squad are Flamengo's Alex Muralha and Atletico Paranaense's Weverton. Endit