Ronaldinho returns as Brazil prepare for Argentina

Brazil manager Mano Manezes has recalled Ronaldinho to the starting line-up for tomorrow night's friendly against Argentina in Qatar. The 30 year old will partner his Milan team mate Robinho and highly rated Santos youngster Neymar in a three man attack. Ronaldinho was often ignored by previous manager Dunga. He was left out of the World Cup squad and hasn't featured since a qualifier against Peru in April 2009.


Ronaldinho (left) will be looking to repay the faith of Mano Manezes (right)

Elsewhere, Manezes continues to experiment with new blood to mark a clear break with the Dunga era. Grêmio goalkeeper Victor wins a fourth cap with Benfica's David Luiz and Fenerbahce's Andre Santos at centre back. Dani Alves will play on the right flank with Thiago Silva on the left. In midfield, Chelsea's Ramires will start alongside two of Manezes former protegés Elías and Lucas. Manezes coached Elías at Corinthians until this summer. Lucas was a key player in his Grêmio side that famously won promotion with seven men in 2005 and reached the Copa Libertadores final two years later helping to cement both their reputations. Manezes recently said that Lucas and Neymar were the future of Brazilian football.

After three impressive friendly wins in charge against USA, Iran and the Ukraine, Manezes promised that Brazil will try to produce style as well as substance against Argentina.

'We still think that winning is important but to me it seems we have to offer something more than victory. It is not always possible to do this but we will try to win, to play well and to offer the fans of the world everything that they have always seen from the Brazilian national team', said the manger in Tuesday's press conference.

Argentina will surely present Brazil with their toughest challenge since the World Cup. Manager Sergio Batista has not yet named his team for his first game in charge since being given the job on a permanent basis but is expected to name a strong lineup. Lionel Messi should play just behind Gonzalo Higuaín up front with Tevez and Aguero unavailable. As caretaker, Batista's team impressively beat world champions Spain 4-1 in Buenos Aires but lost their most recent friendly 1-0 to Japan.

Brazil has won three of the last four encounters between the two countries, the most recent being a 3-1 win in Rosario, Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in September 2009. The fierce rivalry between the two football teams should ensure that this is a keenly fought contest in Doha. Tomorrow's venue also staged a friendly between Brazil and England last year as the gulf state bids to host the 2022 World Cup. The match kicks off at 9pm local time(7pm GMT, 5pm Brasilia) when the temperature will have settled at a resonably comfortable 22 degrees.