Rio de Janeiro, Mar 6: Brazil coach Dunga brought back veteran forward Robinho on Thursday as he named his squad for a pair of European friendlies against France on March 26 at the Stade de France and Chile on March 29 at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
Dunga, who succeeded Luiz Felipe Scolari after Brazil's World Cup misadventure in July, said the idea is to blood a squad in advance of June's Copa America in Chile but with an eye on the longer term.
"It is all about blending youth with experience," said the man who skippered the Selecao's 1994 World Cup winning side.
"Our main objective are the World Cup qualifiers (for Russia 2018) but before then we have the Copa America and two friendlies. The Selecao must build a winning mentality," he told reporters, saying he was "creating a base" of players looking to 2018.
He turned to old hand Robinho, formerly of Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan but who spent last season on loan with Santos, as Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk is injured.
Robinho did not make the World Cup squad but is back in favour with Dunga at the helm.
With his team in action in Europe, Dunga felt free to call up his foreign legion of stars -- Paris Saint German defensive trio Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Marquinhos will enjoy a "home" game against the French -- as well as striker Diego Tardelli, who left Atletico Mineiro for China's Shandong Luneng at year's end.
Another French-based player is 21-year-old Fabinho, who is having a stellar season at Monaco thus far.    AFP