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Brazil leave out key trio for friendly

Skipper Thiago Silva and midfielders Paulinho and Fernandinho will sit out Brazil`s World Cup warm-up friendly with Panama on Tuesday in Goiania, the Brazilian Football Confederation said Sunday.

Skipper Thiago Silva and midfielders Paulinho and Fernandinho will sit out Brazil`s World Cup warm-up friendly with Panama on Tuesday in Goiania, the Brazilian Football Confederation said Sunday.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will leave the trio at the squad base camp at Teresopolis outside Rio to work on specific fitness routines while the rest of the Brazilians take on Panama ahead of a final warm-up against Serbia on Friday. Scolari said Paris Saint-Germain`s Silva is "undergoing recovery work on his legs" as he gets over a niggling injury. "We have two friendlies and it is preferable to field him in either better or perfect conditions from the second match," Scolari told Fox Sports. Brazil`s final pre-Cup test, ahead of their June 12 Group A opener against Croatia in Sao Paulo`s new but delayed Corinthians Arena, is against the Serbians in Sao Paulo`s Morumbi Stadium. Paulinho of Tottenham lacks match fitness and Hernanes took his place in Sunday training. Fernandinho is meanwhile coming off a heavy season at Premier League title winners Manchester City.