Brazil are expected to be at full strength when they take on Costa Rica on Saturday.
Ronaldinho is back. The former World Player of the Year has been in excellent form for Flamengo and has played his way into Mano Menezes's squad, having been left out of the 23 for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
He was welcomed back into the fold for the friendlies with Ghana and the Superclasico win against Argentina and he has now been included in the squad for the match with Costa Rica on Saturday.
The difference this week is that Menezes has picked Ronaldinho, despite being able to select players from Europe as well as domestic players. The 31-year-old is fully deserving of his place after netting 13 goals in 23 games for Flamengo and he provides a perfect foil for the youth and energy of Neymar and Alexandre Pato. The latter is absent this week due to injury so it could well be an opportunity for Hulk to stake a claim for a starting spot in the Selecao.
It is 4/11, at
bet365, that Brazil beat the Central American side and they will be expected to do so with some style. The performances since the Copa America exit to Paraguay in the summer haven't been brilliant and the Samba supporters will be expecting some improvements on Saturday.
There will be a massive number of away fans in what will be almost a home match for Brazil and they are a very tempting evens to win by two or more goals. This bet looks especially good considering that Costa Rica's captain, and biggest goal threat, Bryan Ruiz will miss the game.
It is 6/5 that Brazil win without conceding a goal and that looks like the best bet available. Under Menezes the Samba Boys have kept clean sheets in 12 of their 17 games and it can be lucky 13 for punters on Saturday.
Recommendation
Win to Nil - Brazil (6/5,
bet365)
