Talking to CNN, Ardiles said: “Argentina are favourites for this tournament, and for them to miss out on reaching the knockout rounds would be unthinkable. I also don’t think Brazilian football is better than us at the moment. Both countries went out in the same stage of the World Cup finals, and although Santos won the Copa Libertadores, Argentina won it with Estudiantes in 2009 and Boca Juniors in 2007.”
But Ardiles told the US TV channel that the future looked brighter looked brighter for Brazil: “I do believe the future of Brazilian football is in a better state than ours. The Brazilian economy is strong and they are able to bring back some of their better players from Europe. I think that will really have an effect on the national team in four or five years time.”
