RIO DE JANEIRO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Brazil coach Tite has called up Juventus left-back Alex Sandro for friendlies against Russia and Germany.
The 27-year-old replaces Atletico Madrid's Filipe Luis, who suffered a broken leg during the Spanish side's 5-1 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow in the Europa League on Thursday.
"Brazil's national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar contacted his Atletico Madrid [counterpart] Oscar Celada, [to] confirm the fracture in the fibula of Filipe's left leg," the Brazilian football confederation said in a statement.
Capped 10 times for Brazil, Sandro will be a backup for Real Madrid's Marcelo, who is Tite's first choice left-back.
Brazil will play Russia in Moscow on March 23 followed by a clash with Germany in Berlin four days later.
Atletico Madrid said the injury would sideline Luis for eight weeks, meaning he will be in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup in Russia, which begins on June 14.
