The Corinthians star has suffered a thigh injury, but coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has elected not to call up a replacement

Brazil will have to do without the services of Paulinho for their upcoming games against Italy and Russia after the Corinthians man picked up a thigh injury.

Playmaker Ronaldinho has been left out after disappointing in the defeat to England at Wembley and failing to impress domestically in South America, but Real Madrid’s Kaka has been handed a call-up.

Santos starlet Neymar; Paris Saint-Germain new boy Lucas Moura and Bayern Munich defensive rock Dante are three other names that have made the cut ahead of March’s clashes with Fabio Capello and Cesare Prandelli’s men.

Scolari failed to select Kaka for his first squad as coach since his return to the Selecao hotseat, but the midfielder could get the chance to prove his worth in the two matches in Europe after impressing for Madrid in February.

The World Cup 2014 hosts travel to Geneva to play Italy on March 21 before taking on Russia at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge four days later.