Argentina bring in Pratto for Higuain

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina have replaced suspended striker Gonzalo Higuain with Sao Paulo’s Lucas Pratto in a much-changed side to face Bolivia in today’s World Cup qualifier in La Paz, said coach Edgardo Bauza.

Higuain was cautioned in Thursday’s 1-0 home win over Chile and is suspended for the Bolivia match, along with fellow regulars Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia and Nicolas Otamendi, all of whom picked up yellow cards.

Guido Pizzaro and Ever Banega will start in midfield for Biglia and Mascherano, while forward Sergio Aguero drops out.

Pratto will start up front alongside Lionel Messi, Bauza said yesterday, before declaring his side would rein in their usual dynamism at Bolivia’s high altitude stadium.

The victory over Chile gave them a much-needed boost and lifted them into third place in the 10-team group with 22 points, while Bolivia are second-bottom with just seven.

Brazil coach Tite has given the captaincy to Neymar for the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay. “Neymar deserves the band, he is a skill leader and he is maturing despite pressure,” Tite said.

Brazil’s coach singled out a moment in his team’s 4-1 victory at Uruguay on Thursday to show how much Neymar, who was often accused by rivals of diving and simulating injuries, had changed.

“In the last three games he was fouled more than 50 times and still remained focused on his game. Before he scored the third goal in the previous match, he knew (Uruguayan defender) Coates had already been booked and would be sent off if he had fallen. But he stood on his feet and scored.”

Brazil will qualify for the World Cup with four games in hand at the Arena Corinthians if it beats Paraguay and sees Chile and Ecuador failing to win home matches. The top four teams from the South American group qualify automatically for the 2018 finals in Russia and the fifth-placed side go into a play-off with a team from Oceania. – Reuters