RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá was summoned by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for the first time on Monday for the last two World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia next month.
Paquetá has already played five qualifiers in the campaign but not for Brazil since Ancelotti took charge in May. The coach said he wants to get to know him better.
Paquetá was cleared last month of spot-fixing charges brought against him by the English Football Association two years ago. He scored for West Ham on Friday in the 5-1 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League.
Brazil has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and strikers Neymar, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo were left out of the latest squad.
Neymar suffered a muscle injury in training last Thursday, his Santos club said.
Asked about the absence of Neymar, who has received more playing time for Santos in the last two months, Ancelotti said, “We don’t need to test him.”
Brazil, third in South American qualifying, hosts eliminated Chile at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 4. Five days later, Brazil is at Bolivia, which is fighting for a spot in the international qualifying playoffs.
Brazil:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Hugo Souza (Corinthians)
Defenders: Alexsandro (Lille), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Caio Henrique (Monaco), Vanderson (Monaco), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Fabricio Bruno (Cruzeiro), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain), Wesley (Roma)
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Joelinton (Newcastle), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham)
Forwards: Estêvão (Chelsea), João Pedro (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham)
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Brazil's Neymar walk onto the pitch during his debut for Santos FC in a Sao Paulo league soccer match against Botafogo-SP, in Santos, Brazil, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file)
West Ham's Lucas Paqueta celebrates after scoring during the Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and West Ham in London, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
DENVER (AP) — Brandon Marsh hit a three-run homer as part of a seven-run first inning, Aaron Nola pitched efficiently into the seventh and the Philadelphia Phillies spoiled Colorado’s home opener by beating the Rockies 10-1 on Friday.
The Phillies set the tone early by sending 11 batters to the plate against Michael Lorenzen (0-1) to begin the game. They finished with 13 hits, including three homers — all by lefties — with the wind blowing from left field. Marsh hit a sinker that went a projected 454 feet to the second deck in right-center. In the second, Bryce Harper launched a solo shot. Kyle Schwarber added a 460-foot drive to right field in the fifth.
Nola (1-0) scattered five hits and gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out nine — the bullpen had six more — as Philadelphia won its eighth straight over Colorado. The latest one marked the Rockies' most lopsided loss in a home opener.
It also was win No. 350 for Phillies manager Rob Thomson, making him the fastest to reach the mark in club history (604 games).
There were 48,366 fans who showed up on a sunny but cool afternoon. The Rockies, a team coming off three straight 100-loss seasons, dropped to 18-16 in home openers, including 17-15 at Coors Field.
It was a rough outing for Lorenzen, who allowed nine runs and 12 hits over three innings. Mickey Moniak had one of Colorado's five hits in his first game of the season. Moniak started on the injured list due to a sprained right ring finger.
The Rockies were coming off a three-game series win in Toronto. They didn't capture their first series last season until early June against Miami.
The Phillies will throw lefty Jesús Luzardo (0-1, 9.00 ERA) on Saturday. The Rockies hadn't announced a scheduled starter, but right-hander Chase Dollander (1-0, 9.00) is expected to get some work.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen calls for a new ball after giving up a three-run home run to Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
From left to right, Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh celebrate as Marsh crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola works against the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, right, congratulates Kyle Schwarber after his solo home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Valente Bellozo in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh, right, follows the flight of his three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
