2014 Superclásico de las Américas: Argentina vs. Brazil preview

Brazil face Argentina in the third Superclásico de las Américas at Beijing’s National Stadium on Saturday. The previous two editions of this match-up – in 2011 and 2012 – have been played over two legs, with the Seleção ending victorious on both occasions. This time around, their will be just a single match, but the […]
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sambafoot_admin
2014-10-10 19:18:00

Brazil face Argentina in the third Superclásico de las Américas at Beijing’s National Stadium on Saturday.

The previous two editions of this match-up – in 2011 and 2012 – have been played over two legs, with the Seleção ending victorious on both occasions.

This time around, their will be just a single match, but the rivalry between South America’s two most recognisable nations will be as intense as ever.

For Brazil new Head Coach Dunga, Argentina represent a further chance to show he has the Seleção heading in the right direction. 

Two 1-0 wins against Colombia and Ecuador respectively in September started the healing process after a forgettable end to this summer’s FIFA World Cup, but Saturday’s tie with Argentina will be considered his first proper test.

The Albiceleste come into the contest on the back of a 4-2 win over world champions Germany. Such an emphatic victory may not have cancelled out their FIFA World Cup final defeat to the Nationalelf, but it showed that they would not be dampened by what happened in the Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho on July 13.

Incoming Head Coach Gerardo Martino has largely retained the core of players used by his predecessor Alejandro Sabella, but in what is his first squad selection – the same players who went to the FIFA World Cup were chosen for the Germany rematch – the 51 year-old has looked to refresh certain aspects. 

The most notable players brought in by Martino are Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra, River Plate’s Lionel Vangioni and Mexico-based goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán, while the likes of Éver Banega, Nicolás Gaitán and Facundo Roncaglia are handed a further chance to impress.

Martino’s opposite number Dunga has perhaps been more drastic with his alterations. After the loss of several players to injury, the current Seleção squad includes four debutants and a further ten players who have earned less than ten caps.

Amongst Dunga’s selections are defenders Mário Fernandes, Dodô and Juan Jesus, but its the tactician’s decision to include the likes of Miranda, Filipe Luís and Philippe Coutinho that is perhaps most telling.

The trio were part of a group of players controversially overlooked for the FIFA World Cup by Luiz Felipe Scolari, but are likely to be mainstays under Dunga. 

Of the three, Miranda and Filipe Luís are expected to start against Argentina, as the Seleção continue to rebuild their reputation after a summer to forget.

You can follow how Brazil get on against Argentina with Sambafoot’s minute by minute coverage (the game kicks-off at 1.05pm UK time), or if you are based in the UK, the game will be shown on ITV4.

Squads

Brazil

Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Rafael Cabral (Napoli), Marcelo Grohe (Grêmio)

Defenders: David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Miranda (Atlético de Madrid), Danilo (Porto), Filipe Luís (Chelsea), Juan Jesus (Internazionale), Gil (Corinthians), Mário Fernandes (CSKA Moscow), Dodô (Internazionale)

Midfielders: Souza (São Paulo), Oscar (Chelsea), Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg), Elias (Corinthians), Rômulo (Spartak Moscow), Willian (Chelsea), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Everton Ribeiro (Cruzeiro), Kaká (São Paulo)

Forwards: Neymar (Barcelona), Robinho (Santos), Diego Tardelli (Atlético Mineiro)

Argentina

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Nahuel Guzmán (UANL), Agustín Marchesín (Lanús)

Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Martín Demichelis (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Santiago Vergini (Sunderland), Federico Fernández (Swansea City), Nicolás Otamendi (Valencia), Leonel Vangioni (River Plate), Facundo Roncaglia (Genoa)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain), Ángel Di María (Manchester United), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur), Enzo Pérez (Benfica), Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Éver Banega (Sevilla)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)