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Brazil and Argentina, two of South America's footballing giants, meet today in a World Cup qualifier at the Corinthians Arena. Brazil will be looking to exact revenge on Argentina after their 1-0 loss in the Copa America final.
Argentina could dominate a depleted Brazil side
Brazil are riding on the back of a roughly contested 1-0 win over Chile in midweek. Tite's men weren't at their free-flowing best because they have been forced to play without several of their top stars. Several Premier League clubs have refused to let players leave on international duty because of the Covid-19 quarantine protocols.
Brazil are without players like Alisson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Ederson, Gabriel Jesus, Thiago Silva, Fred, Richarlison and Raphinha.
At the same time, Argentina are at near full strength. This gives Lionel Scaloni's men an opportunity to build on their triumph over Brazil in the Copa America final. Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-1 in another World Cup qualifier in midweek thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez, Joaquin Correa and Angel Correa.
Brazil have won all seven of their World Cup qualifier matchups so far while Argentina have won four but are yet to concede a defeat as well. So it's going to take some effort from La Albiceleste but on paper, it definitely looks like they have the personnel to get the job done.
Argentina Goalkeeper
In a short span, Emiliano Martinez has established himself as a force to be reckoned with between the sticks for Argentina. Martinez was crucial to Argentina's triumphant run at the Copa America and he is viewed as nearly untouchable in that Argentina line-up.
Martinez has kept four cleansheets in his last seven appearances and will keep his place in the starting XI tonight.
Argentina defenders
Young Udinese right back Nahuel Molina is expected to start at right-back. Molina played the length of the game against Venezuela. It was a rather quiet outing for him but he is likely to keep his place against Brazil.
Scaloni is once again expected to go with the centre-back partnership of German Pezzella and Nicolas Otamendi. Both veteran centre-backs put in shifts against Venezuela and will be tasked with keeping the likes of Vinicius Jr., Gabriel Barbosa and Neymar quiet.
Sevilla left-back Marcos Acuna is likely to start at left-back once again. Nicolas Tagliafico hasn't been in great form of late and Scaloni might not want to unsettle his backline right now.
Argentina midfielders
Rodrigo De Paul and Guido Rodriguez were deployed in a double pivot at the heart of midfield in Argentina's latest game against Venezuela. The pair did a good job and Scaloni has no reason to tamper with it.
De Paul is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the game right now and Rodriguez works well as a sweeper in front of defence. Rodriguez dispatches his duties rather silently and often slips under the radar.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo De Paul's driving runs and ability to orchestrate play will help Argentina against a depleted Brazilian midfield. Giovanni Lo Celso is expected to roam in the space ahead of the double pivot and provide service to the front three.
It was Lo Celso who set up Lautaro Martinez for Argentina's first of three goals against Venezuela in midweek. The midfield of De Paul, Rodriguez and Lo Celso seems to give Argentina some balance in the center of the pitch. Scaloni is likely to retain all three for the crucial encounter against Brazil.
Argentina forwards
Angel Di Maria has been in good form of late. The 33-year-old is an elite presence in the final third. His eye for a pass and ability to thread intricate through balls to his forwards make him a huge threat.
In his two appearances for Paris Saint-Germain in the 2021-22 season, Di Maria has a goal and an assist. It was also Di Maria who scored the winner for Argentina against Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final.
Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez will lead the line for Argentina. Lautaro Martinez had a pretty good outing against Venezuela. The Inter Milan striker scored the first goal of the game for La Albiceleste and was involved in both the other goals as well.
He ran onto a brilliant pass from Lo Celso to open the scoring for Argentina. He did some good work alongside Messi to set up Argentina's second. Joaquin Correa's goal came from a rebound off Martinez's strike as well.
Messi had a rather dull outing against Venezuela by his own lofty standards. He was still involved in most of the good things that Argentina created in the attacking half. He struggled to stamp his authority on the game but it didn't matter against 10-men Venezuela.
Messi will need to be sharper and this is a great occasion for the Paris Saint-Germain forward to truly get his season underway.
