South American and world football's greatest rivalry is in the spotlight again as Brazil travels to San Juan to face arch-rivals Argentina in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. This match was halted last September due to certain Argentinian players breaching Covid-19 protocols and is being replayed on Tuesday.
BRA vs ARG Match Details :
When: Tuesday 15 Nov/ Wednesday 16 Nov
Timings: 20:30 (DST)/ 05:00 (IST)
Where: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, Argentina
BRA vs ARG Match Preview :
Brazil became the first country from CONMEBOL to secure qualification to the FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar in 2022 with a 1-0 over Colombia on Friday. Tite's men achieved the feet without losing a single game, winning 11, drawing once and with six games still left to play. The Selecao haven't lost in the qualifiers since 2015 which shows their dominance on South American soil. Lucas Paqueta's strike in the second half became the difference of the game that Brazil outpaced their opposition. This time the Selecao will be traveling to Qatar with a rich crop of talent blended with experienced footballers. Not that Brazil doesn't provide supremely talented footballers in the contest but this group of footballers is surely among the best to play the tournament beginning in November of next year. For now, they are counting chances to exert revenge on the Copa America champions for losing on the silverware this summer.
La Albiceleste is also willing to name themselves in the group stages of the World Cup as soon as possible, even doing it in this fixture if certain conditions are met. Argentina can secure a World Cup spot if they beat Brazil and if two or three other teams namely Uruguay, Chile and Colombia fail to win their game. But their main focus is to stay unbeaten against their rivals for two years. Lionel Scaloni's men have been equally impressive with their records, scoring 20 goals and conceding just six. They carry the second-best goal difference in the qualifiers (14) after Brazil (23) and are beaming with great form as well. In the last game against Uruguay, a first-half wonder goal from Di Maria settled the nerves for Argentina's defense to hold on to opponent's attack for the rest of the game. It perfectly showed the defensive style Scaloni implanted that helped them with the Copa America honor earlier. They are now desperate to take full points from the upcoming fixtures.
Recent Form :
Argentina: WWWDW
Brazil: WWDWW
BRA vs ARG Team News :
Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Lionel Messi will feature in this mammoth fixture. The Argentinian maestro missed the last three games for his club PSG and only made a substitute appearance in the 1-0 win over Uruguay. It is left to see whether Messi is handed a start on Tuesday or not. His teammate Leonardo Parades is awaiting a late fitness test to make himself available. The 27-year-old last played in October against Peru before suffering a thigh injury. Paolo Dybala came with a blow and was taken off at halftime. The Juventus star needs some pending studies to know the nature or extent of his injury as described by Scaloni. There will be no other altercation to the team that beat Uruguay on their turf.
For Brazil, Tete will be without the trusted lieutenant Casemiro due to accumulating enough yellow cards to miss this crucial clash. That opens the door for Liverpool's Fabinho to anchor the role in the midfield. Fred can also make away after being taken off at half-time against Colombia with Marseille Gerson his likely replacement. Vinicius Jr is likable to get into the starting eleven with Antony starting over Leeds United star Raphinha. Brazil are assured of qualification to the World Cup in Qatar next year so won't bother to make as many changes they prefer but not at the cost of losing the derby.
BRA vs ARG Predicted Lineups :
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Christian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Acuna, Lo Celso, Guido Rodriguez, Rodrigo De Paul, Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi
Brazil: Ederson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro, Gerson, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta, Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar
BRA vs ARG Head to Head :
This game was scheduled to play in September and it got interrupted just 15 minutes after kickoff when health authorities stormed on the pitch complaining about Covid protocols broken by a few players from the Argentinian camp. Before this fixture, the Copa America final was hosted in Brazil in which the host lost to its rival and Lionel Messi finally managed to lift a trophy for his nation in his fourth attempt. Argentina boasts a winning record against Brazil recently with their only defeat coming against the Blue and Yellows in the semifinals of the 2019 Copa America.
BRA vs ARG Dream11 Team Predictions:
(If Messi starts the game)
GK: E. Martinez (ARG)
DEF: Sandro (BRA), Romero (ARG), Marquinhos (BRA), Acuna (ARG)
MID: Paqueta (BRA), G. Rodriguez (ARG), Fabinho (BRA), Di Maria (ARG)
FW: Messi (ARG), Neymar (BRA)
(If Messi do not start the game)
GK: E. Martinez (ARG)
DEF: Sandro (BRA), Romero (ARG), Marquinhos (BRA), Acuna (ARG)
MID: Paqueta (BRA), G. Rodriguez (ARG), Fabinho (BRA), Di Maria (ARG)
FW: Vini Jr (BRA), Neymar (BRA)
Match Prediction: Brazil 1-1 Argentina
This fixture always puts a lot at stake whenever both of these nations collide with each other. Argentina have become defensively resilient under Scaloni in recent days and that has breathed new life into the team so they will be a hard nut to crack. Brazil won't bother with a drawing the game having already sealed their faith and will use this occasion to shine their armory.
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