Ricardinho was a last-minute call-up to the squad after captain Emerson dislocated his shoulder in training less than 24 hours before the opening match.

It was the first time the 26-year had been called up by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

"I'm ready and I'm travelling with thoughts of Brazil winning the title in my head," he said on his departure from Sao Paulo.

He has since been restricted to coming on late in matches off the bench.

The Corinthians player, who had a spell in France with Bordeaux in 1997, made his debut against Colombia in March 2000 but has since added only two more caps to his tally.