ack in July, Brazil beat Argentina
2-0 in the Copa America semi-
finals and, while there was some
controversy about refereeing
decisions, there was no doubt
that Brazil were the better side.
Five days later they deservedly won the Copa, while
Argentina got ready to lose the services of Lionel
Messi to suspension after he accused the competition
of being riddled with corruption.
Yet, little more than three months later, it is Brazil
coach Tite who is under pressure while Argentina’s
Lionel Scaloni is sitting pretty.
In four subsequent games Brazil have managed
no wins and kept no clean sheets, while doubts exist
about the architecture of the side. After years of
setting up in a 4-1-4-1 (or 4-3-3 according to
preference), Tite has tried to do something different
by bringing Neymar into a more central role. TheContrasting
fortunes for
big guns
Questions for Brazil coach
Tite as Argentina revive
under Scaloni
experiment was hampered by an injury he picked up
early on in a recent friendly against Nigeria, forcing a
swift substitution, but the questions remain. Do Brazil
possess the attacking mobility to get the best out of
Roberto Firmino at centre-forward? And does fielding
Firmino and Neymar plus two wide attackers leave
them too open to the counter-attack?
When Tite took over a little over three years ago,
the parts dropped instantly into place. Now he is going
to have to work harder to find the right blend.
Argentina, meanwhile, are moving with surprising
serenity, despite the absence of Messi.
Upgraded from caretaker to permanent coach,
Scaloni has introduced a new generation of midfield
and attacking talent. Centre-forward Lautaro Martinez
scored a stunning hat-trick to turn a potentially tough
game against Mexico into a 4-0 rout, while midfielders
Exequiel Palacios, Nico Dominguez and Alexis Mac
Allister all made their presence felt. In addition, striker
Lucas Alario and wide attacker Lucas Ocampos have
also been successfully brought into the squad.
Even allowing for the fact that Ecuador are in
transition and have a caretaker coach, Argentina’s 6-1
win over their South American rivals was an impressiveNewcomer...Lucas
Ocampos
of ArgentinaInjured...Tite watches Neymar leave the pitch against NigeriaB
South America
TIM VICKERY