Ronaldinho left out of Brazil squad

 　　RIO DE JANEIRO, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Ronaldinho is facing the reality that his international career may be over after being dropped from Brazil's national team.

　　The two-time FIFA world player of the year was left out of Brazil's 23-man squad¹ for a series of upcoming friendlies against Denmark, the United States, Mexico and Argentina.

　　The squad will form the basis for Brazil's London Olympic team, set to be announced next month.

　　Ronaldinho's exclusion² comes just two days after the president of Brazil's football federation³, Jose Maria Marin, said he didn't want the midfielder to go to London.

　　The 32-year-old has been criticized for his poor form and the early exit of his Brazilian club Flamengo from this year's Copa Libertadores tournament.

　　National coach Mano Menezes, who last year cited Ronaldinho as a key part of his Olympic plans, admitted his feelings about the former Barcelona and AC Milan star had changed.

　　"I previously⁴ thought he deserved to be called up but not this time," Menezes said.

　　"Many times players are made scapegoats⁵. He is not responsible for the success or the failure of the Brazilian team. I have a lot of respect for him and won't be like some others who like to kick people when they are down."

　　Menezes left open the possibility of Ronaldinho returning, saying: "some players are capable of coming back and surprising us. Ronaldinho is one of those."

　　There was better news for AC Milan's Alexandre Pato, who was recalled to the team after a series of injury problems.

　　The squad's over 23 players are goalkeeper Jefferson and defenders⁶ Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo and Daniel Alves.

　　Menezes said he would take the permitted three over-age players to the Games.

　　Squad:

　　Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Neto (Fiorentina), Rafael (Santos)

　　Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Danilo, Alex Sandro (both Porto), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Bruno Uvini (Tottenham Hotspur), Juan (Inter Milan)

　　Midfielders: Casemiro, Lucas (both Sao Paulo), Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur), Romulo (Vasco da Gama), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Oscar (Internacional), Giuliano (Dnipropetrovsk)

　　Forwards: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Hulk (Porto), Leandro Damiao (Internacional), Neymar (Santos), Wellington Nem (Fluminense).

1 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

2 exclusion   

n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行

参考例句：

• Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
• He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

5 scapegoats   

n.代人受过的人，替罪羊( scapegoat的名词复数 )v.使成为替罪羊( scapegoat的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They were made the scapegoats for the misfire of the program. 他们成了那个计划失败的替罪羊。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Only some of the guards and a minor hotel employee, chosen as scapegoats, were imprisoned. 只有一些保镖和那个旅馆的小职员当了替罪羊，被关进了监狱。 来自辞典例句

6 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》