Coach Emerson Leao revamped his roster drastically Friday for Brazil's 2002 World Cup qualifier against Peru, calling up 11 new players, including six who have never played for the national team. Not a single player remains from the Brazilian team that reached the 1998 World Cup final. The only World Cup veteran is Romario, who led Brazil to the world championship in 1994, but was injured and cut from the squad in 1998. Brazil meets Peru on Wednesday at Sao Paulo's Morumbi stadium. Half of the 22 players chosen by Leao weren't on the roster for Brazil's last qualifier, a 1-0 loss to Ecuador last month.
Brazil is third in the South American standings, trailing Argentina and Paraguay.
The most noteworthy absentee is Rivaldo, the 1999 FIFA Player of the Year and a national team fixture for years. Veteran defenders Cafu and Roberto Carlos are also missing, as is Ronaldo, who is working his way back from reconstructive knee surgery. Defenders Alessandro, Leo and Juan, midfielder Leomar, and strikers Washington and Ewerthon are on the national team for the first time. The team gathers Sunday for training in Sao Paulo state.