Brazil's national team head coach Dunga on Thursday said that playing for Brazil is worth "any sacrifice", after football stars Ronaldinho and Kaka asked to be dismissed from the Copa America because they were tired.

During the press conference to announce the roster for the two friendly matches Brazil will play in June, he added that, as a player of the national team, he never asked to be dismissed from a game.

Dunga used a personal story to exemplify the importance that he used to give to the team. The former midfielder told that he once joined the Brazilian squad on a Wednesday for a friendly match on Thursday in Brazil, and went back to Japan to play for Jubilo Iwata on Saturday.

Barcelona's Ronaldinho and Milan's Kaka argued in their requests that they have not had a vacation since 2004, and the Copa America would coincide with the European team's off season.

The team's assistant manager Jorginho said that the coaching committee would respect the players decision. The presence of the two midfielders/strikers on the list for the frendlies was a proof of that, he pointed out.

Dunga stressed that there will not be any type of retaliation, and regarded the participation of the two players as necessary, because it would not be possible to replace them for the next games. For the Copa America, to be held in July in Venezuela, there will be more time to practice, he said.

The roster also includes: goalkeepers Helton (Porto) and Doni (Roma); wingbacks Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Maicon, (Internazionale),Gilberto (Hertha Berlin) and Marcelo (Real Madrid); defenders Juan(Bayer Leverkusen), Naldo (Werder Bremen), Alex (PSV Eindhoven) and Alex Silva (Sao Paulo); Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Josue (Sao Paulo), Edmilson (Barcelona), Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin) and Diego (Werder Bremen); strikers Afonso (Heerenveen), Robinho (Real Madrid), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow) andJo (CSKA Moscow).

The first friendly will be against England at the historical Wembley Stadium, on June 1 in London. On June 5, the squad will face Turkey at the Westfallen Stadion, in Dortmund, Germany.

Editor: Donald