All eyes will be on Brazil in these World Cup Qualifiers as they host Argentina.

The match will take place in the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, home of the biggest dark night in Brazilian football history, the 7-1 loss to Germany. However, Brazil have never lost a World Cup Qualifier at home. Should Argentina somehow manage to get a win, the Mineirao would have to be seen as a curse venue.

But that’s a big somehow manage. Argentina have been in an absolute downfall since the Copa America ended while Brazil has skyrocketed since the Copa America. The Brazilians managed to win gold in the Olympics and with new coach Tite, are at the top of the World Cup Qualifying table following four straight wins.

[mstw_league_standings league=world-cup-qualifiers season=2016]

For Argentina, it’s one win, two draws and one defeat and a drop to 6th place. The last World Cup Qualifying match between the two came last year in a 1-1 draw in Argentina. The last World Cup Qualifier between these two in Brazil came in June 2008, in a match which ended in a 0-0 draw and a Brazilian crowd who started chanting Lionel MESSI’s name.

Edgardo BAUZA has already announced his starting line-up with Lionel MESSI and Gonzalo HIGUAIN up front.

ROMERO; ZABALETA, FUNES MORI, OTAMENDI, MAS; DI MARIA, MASCHERANO, BIGLIA, PEREZ; MESSI, HIGUAIN

BAUZA is going with the same players used in midfield as Alejandro SABELLA went with at the World Cup. This is Enzo PEREZ’s first competitive match for Argentina since the final of the World Cup.

The big news for Argentina is the return of Lionel MESSI following his absence in Argentina’s last 3 World Cup Qualifying matches. If Argentina are to do anything, it’s going to be through him.

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Edgardo BAUZA held a press conference to talk about the team and the two World Cup Qualifying matches.

Argentina play Brazil and Colombia in the two matches and Egardo BAUZA has talked about those matches, the team and more. Here’s what he had to say:

“The idea is to fight in midfield and counter quickly. I’m going with DI MARIA and Enzo PEREZ because i know that they can keep up with the game. As for LAVEZZI, we took a look at him and he’s well. For that reason he’s making the bench. We’ve talked with MESSI and we’ve worked with him. I’ve given him a lot of freedom to move around up front. MESSI’s arrived well without any problems.”

“TITE’s teams (Brazil’s coach) are very organized. When we’ve played against each other, they’ve been tough matches. Argentina has world class players who can win you matches. It’s going to be a match with a lot of battles in midfield.”

“The idea to win is there. I don’t see why it shouldn’t be. The match against Colombia is going to be different than the one against Brazil. Both are difficult. We know that we’re going to play against two strong teams, equally as strong as Argentina.”

“The team, I see them strong, good, I’m sure of what I want. It’s going to be two teams with a lot of history. We will not man mark NEYMAR but we will be pressuring him.”

“These players have shown that in the tough situations, they can come out of it.”

The rumored line-up is out!

The rumored line-up for Argentina is out and it’s Lionel MESSI and Gonzalo HIGUAIN up front. Here’s the rumored line-up:

ROMERO; ZABALETA, FUNES MORI, OTAMENDI, MAS; DI MARIA, MASCHERANO, BIGLIA, PEREZ; MESSI, HIGUAIN

Three players miss out on the bench. BELLUSCHI, ACUÑA and DEMICHELIS are the players expected to miss out on the bench.

Players have already started arriving in Brazil for Thursday’s match.

All eyes in South America will be in Brazil on Thursday as they host Argentina in a World Cup Qualifier. Some Argentine players have already arrived. Among them are Sergio AGUERO, Nicolas OTAMENDI, Pablo ZABALETA, Lucas PRATTO and others.

Lionel MESSI and Javier MASCHERANO will be among the last players to arrive.