Brazil vs Argentina preview

June 7, 2017
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Packed Melbourne Cricket Ground is expected to witness arguably the world’s most fiercely contested rivalry as Brazil and Argentina square off in an international friendly.

The two powerhouses go into the game in completely contrasting fortunes, but both managers and their men will be equally eager to emerge victorious.

After a very difficult period under Carlos Dunga, Brazil have flourished since the arrival of Tite and they have been playing their best football in years.

The Selecao have won each of their nine games since changing their head coach, with most of those wins recorded by a big margin.

The 3-0 triumph over bitter rivals Argentina in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers was certainly the most satisfying and Brazil are now 15/8 to enjoy another victory over los Albicelestes.

The boss has made quite a few changes for the June friendlies, leaving out Neymar, Firmino, Casemiro, Marquinhos, Miranda and Marcelo, while Lucas Lima was forced to withdraw through injury.

Meanwhile, this will be an opportunity for the likes of Ederson Moraes, Fagner, Jemerson and Rodriguinho to impress and maybe stake their claim for a place in the 2018 World Cup squad.

Ederson, Alex Sandro, Diego Souza and Rodrigo Caio were late in joining the squad and they will not be in contention for starting positions.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Weverton – Fagner, Thiago Silva, Gil, Filipe Luis – Fernandinho, Paulinho – Renato Augusto, Willian, Coutinho – Gabriel Jesus.

Occupying fifth position in the South American Zone of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with just four games to go, Argentina are in danger of missing the first major tournament since 1970.

This is why the national team chiefs decided to appoint Jorge Sampaoli as their new head coach, and the Copa America winner faces a baptism of fire in Australia.

Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Enzo Perez were the high-profile players to miss out on his first Argentina squad, while Mauro Icardi, Manuel Lanzini, Alejandro Gomez and Leandro Paredes were all included.

Sampaoli has faced some selection problems as Javier Mascherano and Javier Pinola were forced to withdraw, but Eduardo Salvio is fit to play.

The new boss will field his side in a 3-4-2-1 formation, throwing caution to the wind and insisting on high pressing style.

There are no doubts this is a risky tactics, but if it works against star-studded Brazil, it is bound to prove good fit for the remaining four qualifiers.

Probable starting line-up (3-4-2-1): Romero – Mercado, Mammana, Otamendi – Salvio, Biglia, Banega, Di Maria – Messi, Dybala – Higuain.

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