Argentina will make changes to their starting XI against Brazil on Tuesday, but they will not be “based on performance”, coach Lionel Scaloni said.
He Albiceleste They suffered their first defeat since lifting the 2022 World Cup when they lost 2-0 at home to Uruguay on Thursday.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
“No one likes to lose and clearly we are the first ones who want to recover,” Scaloni said at Monday’s press conference. “There will be some changes and they will not be performance based.
“I’m not going to change a player because he plays well or badly in a game, that’s not how we do things. The changes that are made are to hurt the opponent.”
Argentina leads the South American qualifying group heading into Tuesday’s match.
They are two points ahead of Uruguay and five points clear of fifth-placed Brazil after five games.
Brazil has struggled lately, picking up one point in its last three qualifying matches, but Scaloni is taking nothing for granted.
“It is relative to say that Brazil is down,” he said. “Against Colombia they played a very good game until the 70th minute. That result [a Brazil 2-1 defeat] “It’s a little misleading.”
Brazil is missing key players.
Vinícius Júnior injured a hamstring in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Colombia, while Neymar is ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Fernando Diniz’s team will also not be able to count on the experienced midfielder Casemiro.
“They have important absences, but if you look at the team, they are all top level,” Scaloni said. “They have great players who are up to the task and it’s Brazil, everyone knows what it means.”
The Argentine players have good memories of their last match at the Maracaná stadium, where they defeated Brazil 1-0 to lift the 2021 Copa América.
It was Argentina’s first major title in 28 years.
“We have to focus on what is now,” he said. “We don’t have to remember the old days. We have a great game ahead of us, a great rival who will be tough.”
