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Calling on experience Candinho relies on old guard to restore Brazil's fortunes
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Caretaker coach Candinho is set to use a nucleus of Vasco da Gama players for Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Sunday. The Brazilians travel to Maracaibo still smarting from the embarrassing defeat to nine-man Cameroon by their Olympic team in Sydney. The shock result brought about the sacking of Wanderley Luxemburgo. Candinho, who takes charge of Brazil for the first time on Sunday, has dispensed with the young players involved in the Olympic tournament. Instead, he has called up proven goalscorer Romario and Vasco da Gama teammates Juninho Pernambucano, Juninho and Euller. In an attempt to recreate the atmosphere of a settled team, Candinho has also called up Cleber, Donizete and Ricardinho from Cruzeiro. "Let's try and take advantage of the understanding that already exists between these players," said Candinho. "Both teams are in a good phase." A convincing win against Venezuela will ease the pressure on Brazil, which is fourth in the South American qualifying group. Candinho has said he will stand down after the Venezuela game in solidarity with Luxemburgo, who was dismissed on September 30. Bottom-placed Venezuela will be without Gabriel Urdeneta, arguably its most creative player, who is undergoing surgery for appendicitis. Group leader gears upGroup leader Argentina is gearing up for a clash with second-placed Uruguay, managed by Argentine Daniel Passarella. Argentina, which has been hit hard by injuries, hopes that Gabriel Batistuta will be fit to play. He suffered a recurrence of a knee injury in Roma's Serie A match against Bologna last Sunday. River Plate playmaker Pablo Aimar and Lazio's Juan Sebastian Veron are also very doubtful. They will undergo late fitness tests. Hernan Crespo, Ariel Ortega, Javier Zanetti, Roberto Sensini and Matias Almeyda are all definitely out of action. Hopefuls for a midfield slot include Claudio Husain, Diego Simeone, Juan Pablo Sorin and Marcelo Gallardo. In attack, Gustavo Lopez, Claudio Lopez and Cristian Gonzalez are among the available choices. German Burgos is likely to replace the suspended Roberto Bonano in goal. Pasarella has hinted he may employ a five-man midfield. But Federico Magallanes and Alvaro Recoba are still seen as the most likely strike force. Uruguay will be without striker Dario Silva and captain Paolo Montero. Chilavert provokes ColombiaParaguay's eccentric goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert was doing his best to provoke Colombia ahead of their clash. He accused the Colombian press of whipping up hostility toward the Paraguayan team and has refused to talk to their reporters. Paraguay is currently on 14 points, one behind second-placed Colombia. Colombia is awaiting a fitness report on River Plate striker Juan Pablo Angel who is leading scorer in the Argentine league. Salas doubtful for ChileChile travels to Ecuador with both teams hungry for a win to keep alive their qualifying chances. Chile will be without David Pizarro, who has a knee injury, while striker Marcelo Salas is doubtful, also with a knee problem. Group strugglers Bolivia and Peru meet in La Paz with 17-year-old Joselito Vaca expected to secure a place in the Bolivia midfield after impressing coach Carlos Aragones. Coventry City striker Ysrael Zuniga is expected to play for Peru despite missing his flight to Lima on Monday. In the CONCACAF region, Mexico, under new coach Enrique Meza, takes on Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras meets Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago, hoping to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in its history, heads group C of the semifinal round by three points from Mexico. The top two nations go forward to the final stage of the CONCACAF qualifying competition. Honduras is seeking to avenge its 3-1 group D humbling by Jamaica in July. Both sides are well placed to reach the final round. Jamaica, on 12 points, leads second-placed Honduras by three points. El Salvador has three points and St Vincent is bottom with none. The U.S. hosts Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio, next Wednesday, and a win would assure the hosts advance to the next round.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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