NEYMAR IS BACK FOR MESSI-LESS ARGENTINA
Selecao may pile pressure on Tata’
MONTEVIDEO – Brazil superstar Neymar returns from suspension to face an injury-hit Argentina today (tomorrow morning SA time) as South America’s qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup resumes with a showdown between the bitter rivals.
Neymar was forced to sit out Brazil ’ s opening two qualifiers last month following his four-match suspension at the Copa America in June.
But the talismanic striker is now back and available for Brazil as the five-time world champions head to Buenos Aires to face an Argentina side who took only one point from their first two games.
Argentina suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Ecuador in their opening game and then labored to a goalless stalemate against Paraguay in Asuncion. Those results have piled the pressure on beleaguered Argentina manager Gerardo ‘ Tata ’ Martino. Martino ’ s preparations for today ’ s showdown at the Estadio Monumental have been thrown into turmoil by an injury crisis which has deprived him of an array of attacking talent.
Captain Lionel Messi had already been ruled out after suffering a longterm knee injury in September.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is also unavailable while Carlos Tevez is rated as doubtful after suffering a knee problem. Brazil veteran Kaka, restored to the squad by coach Dunga earlier this year, has urged the Selecao to draw on the memory of their 3-1 win in Argentina during a 2009 World Cup qualifier as they prepare for today ’ s clash. “Argentina haven ’ t won a game yet, so they have an extra motivation to beat Brazil,” Kaka said. “We had a good win over Venezuela and we need to continue that. But it ’ s never easy against Argentina and it ’ s always a great game.
“We know how difficult it is to go there and get a result, but we can win. We went there in 2009 and won – I can remember the party we had at the end of that match, ” the former AC Milan star said.
Elsewhere, Ecuador and Uruguay will meet in a top-of-thetable meeting involving two sides with 100% records. Uruguay, who are still missing Luis Suarez as he serves out the remainder of his 2014 World Cup biting ban, will be able to recall striker Edinson Cavani, suspended during the Copa America for his lurid altercation with Chile ’ s Gonzalo Jara. –
UNDER PRESSURE: Gerardo Tata Martino
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