Brazil are currently residing in first place in Conmebol's 10-team table after taking 21 points from the first 30 available, with eight matches left to play in the road to Russia. They have won all four of their qualifying fixtures since Tite replaced Dunga as the five-time world champions' manager following the Copa America Centenario in the summer, when the Selecao suffered a major embarrassment in failing to advance beyond the group stage. Despite their current lofty position at the summit of the standings, only six points separate the Brazilians from Paraguay in seventh spot - the top four qualify automatically and the fifth-placed outfit faces a play-off against the winners of the Oceania section - so it is important they remain focused on the task in hand this week.
Argentina are not doing anywhere near as well as their great continental rivals: Edgardo Bauza's charges are currently down in sixth place, which means they would not qualify for the World Cup if the campaign ended tomorrow. All is not lost for the Argentinians, however, with a win on Thursday likely to propel them into the top four, although there will have to be a significant improvement in all areas if they are to end a poor run of form which has seen the 1978 and 1986 world champions lose 1-0 to Paraguay and draw 2-2 with Peru and Venezuela in their last three competitive clashes.
Brazil will have to make do without Real Madrid's Casemiro through injury, although Tite has still included the holding midfielder in his squad. The Selecao will probably stick with the 4-3-3 formation that has served them so well in recent months, with Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus set to start in the centre of a three-man frontline which is also likely to be comprised of Neymar and Philippe Coutinho. Central midfielder Renato Augusto, who has become an important player in Tite's favoured possession-based game, is another one worth watching in Brazilian yellow.
Lionel Messi's return to fitness is a major boost for Argentina, who are still incredibly reliant on the Barcelona forward. Messi will probably start on the right flank with either Sergio Aguero or Gonzalo Higuain up top in Bauza's preferred 4-2-3-1 setup, while further back Javier Mascherano is an important provider of steel in the engine room. Argentina's primary concern is in defence, with Manchester City’s Nicolas Otamendi, Everton’s Ramiro Funes Mori, Villarreal’s Mateo Musacchio and Espanyol’s Martin Demichelis the players competing for the two available spots at centre-half.
Brazil's fine form since Tite was installed in the dugout means they have the edge going into this meeting with Argentina, who are comparatively low on confidence following a poor recent run of form. A home victory could therefore be the way to go in this one, with a 2-1 triumph a particularly tempting option in the correct scoreline market.
.png)
