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Under fire Brazil looks to answer critics against hot Argentina
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) -- Brazil, after a stuttering start to the World Cup qualifiers, faces an ominous task on Wednesday when it takes on a rampant Argentina. Under fire from all sides and with coach Wanderley Luxemburgo quickly becoming one of the country's most unpopular figures, Brazil need to turn their fortunes around against a side that has won all five of their games so far. The two great rivals have never met in a World Cup qualifier. Brazil are fifth in the South American group -- a position that would force them into a playoff with the winners of Oceania region -- with two wins, two draws and one defeat from five mundane, colorless performances. Luxemburgo, who has failed to settle on a team and has abandoned the successful attacking philosophy from his club days, has taken the brunt of the criticism and could lose his job if results and performances do not improve quickly. The coach will have defender Antonio Carlos and midfielder Emerson Ferreira back after both missed last week's 2-1 away loss to Paraguay. Critics, however, see Emerson as one of the fundamental Brazilian problems, complaining that his only qualities are destructive and that Luxemburgo should be searching for more inventive players. Antonio Carlos is expected to be made captain in the absence of Cafu, who was sent off against Paraguay and was involved in a slanging match after leaving the team. Cafu insisted he was given leave while Luxemburgo claimed the right-back had let down his teammates. Brazil, eight points behind Argentina, have promised they will win the match in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and go on to finish atop the group, in which they have 13 more games to play. Argentina, who beat Ecuador 2-0 last week, are likely to be without injured striker Gabriel Batistuta again, with Hernan Crespo taking his place. Otherwise, coach Marcelo Bielsa will field the same team that has started the previous five matches -- a situation which fills Brazilian supporters, tired of Luxemburgo's chopping and changing, with envy. The week's program of qualifiers begins on Tuesday when Ecuador, who have never qualified for a World Cup tournament, take on Colombia in Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador have six points, two less than their opponents, and a win would take them temporarily above Brazil. On the same day, bottom team Venezuela face fellow strugglers Chile in San Cristobal, Venezuela, the latter desperately needing a win after last week's 1-0 defeat against Bolivia left them with only four points from five games. Chile striker Marcelo Salas is suspended. Tuesday's other game pits a resurgent Uruguay, second in the group with 10 points, against a struggling Peru in Montevideo. The Peruvians, after a bright start to the competition, have lost their last three games and will travel with third-string keeper Leoa Butron. Oscar Ibanez is injured and his reserve, Juan Flores, has been kicked out for disciplinary reasons. Peru will be missing midfielder Jose del Solar and striker Ysrael Zuniga, who are suspended, while Uruguay striker Dario Silva will be absent for the same reason. The final match is on Thursday in La Paz, Bolivia, where Bolivia face a Paraguay team buoyed by last week's shock win over Brazil.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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