Brazil and Australia meet in double-header as post-World Cup rebuild begins

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] take on the Socceroos [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/brazil-I9l9aqLq/?mid=8EY6ZJpI"]in Townsville on Friday[/a] before a second clash in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/brazil-I9l9aqLq/?mid=GvxFXcFU"]Brisbane next Tuesday[/a].[/p][p]It will be both countries' first outings since their World Cup campaigns ended in July.[/p][p]The Socceroos bowed out in the round of 32 while five-time champions Brazil suffered a shock loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a] in the last 16.[/p][p]Brazil coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ancelotti-carlo/nZQG5IgJ/"]Ancelotti[/a] has responded by selecting only nine players from their World Cup squad for the two Australian matches and a friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/A1UUGpep/"]India[/a] in Kolkata on October 3.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] forwards [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-pedro/CAmJERl2/"]Joao Pedro[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/estevao/pSdnUEdI/"]Estevao[/a] were recalled, while Ancelotti has included several new faces, among them goalkeepers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedro-morisco/K6da5X1o/"]Pedro Morisco[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/otavio/4C75tRxq/"]Otavio[/a], defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mauro-junior/jZwOs76l/"]Mauro Junior[/a], and midfielders Breno Bidon and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gabriel-bontempo/MqnYFh7E/"]Gabriel Bontempo[/a].[/p][p]Several of Brazil's established stars will be in action, including forwards [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bruno-guimaraes/xtyKanzU/"]Bruno Guimaraes[/a] and central defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marquinhos/UFfev8HP/"]Marquinhos[/a].[/p][p]Guimaraes said this week that it was important that new faces had been included.[/p][p][b]"We are constantly refining talent in our country,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]"It's crucial to have that solid foundation, so the coach can keep discovering new talent.[/p][p][b]"Of course we respect [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] and hope we have a great game," [/b]he added.[/p][p]"Things haven’t been great recently, but from my perspective, the only way to turn the situation around is by playing well and winning games."[/p][embed guid="7be4ab77-1a5d-4166-b53d-60ccaa58c328" url="https://x.com/BrasilEdition/status/2102821516341661823" social-type="twitter" /][p]Australian coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/popovic-tony/ttgVDVCA/"]Tony Popovic[/a] also swung the selection axe, omitting 10 players from the Socceroos' World Cup squad, including veteran goalkeeper and captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ryan-mathew/YBLvziIh/"]Mat Ryan[/a], and striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/volpato-cristian/2B5YqXFG/"]Cristian Volpato[/a], who was fined this month after testing positive for cocaine.[/p][p]Popovic named seven uncapped players in the 25-man squad, which was rocked by the injury-forced withdrawal of in-form [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norwich/Qo6off6p/"]Norwich City[/a] striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/toure-mohamed/SfbYnjVB/"]Mohamed Toure[/a].[/p][p]Australia are building towards the Asian Cup in January-February.[/p][p]Experienced midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/irvine-jackson/SvwMecZH/"]Jackson Irvine[/a] said the two Brazil matches were a good chance for new players to prove themselves on a big stage.[/p][p][b]"I think it's a really exciting one for us, to come off the back of the World Cup and progress even further with our football, with new players, a chance to take the next step again,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]"We need to take another step.[/p][p][b]"We did amazing things over the summer, but we’ve got another tournament coming and for us to grow, we have to look to progress."[/b][/p]