Firmino and Coutinho Left Off Final Brazil Olympics Squad

Having been left out of Brazil’s preliminary Olympics squad, it seemed a safe bet that Roberto Firmino would get to spend a full pre-season at Liverpool this summer. With Brazil’s uncertain management situation and the risk of injuries that could force a change before the final squad was announced, he wasn’t 100% safe.

At least not until today, as Brazil have released their final Olympics squad, and as expected, Firmino isn’t anywhere to be found on it. Neither is compatriot Philippe Coutinho, who in theory at least could have been called on to represent his country again despite his involvement in the Copa America Centenario this summer.

With Firmino officially safe from being called up, all that’s left now for Liverpool fans is to wait for final confirmation from Germany that Loris Karius won’t be included as an overage player in the German squad—though he isn’t expected to be and is expected to report for pre-season training at his new club on Saturday.

Despite being rated the second-best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga last season, reports earlier in the month had Karius behind Timo Horn, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Bernd Leno in Germany’s Olympic plans, and nothing since has suggested a change in thinking. As with Firmino, though, fans will be eager to have that made official.

No other Liverpool first team players are considered likely to be called up for their country’s Olympics squads, something that would mean missing the second half of pre-season as well as at least the first three weeks of the season.