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Fascinating read Tim, apologies for taking this off topic so early in the discussion but something you said on the World Football Phone In intrigued me a little ....... you suggested that Santos had 'no motivation' to go for the league title as they were already qualified for next year's Libertadores. Could you elaborate on that please, seems pretty strange to me!

It's amazing Argentina manage to cobble a team together from only 195 people...

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Really enjoyed your piece today on Samba Footy, 2002 Qualifiers were really entertaining for all the reasons you mentioned... regarding the upcoming game, do you think Diego Souza will get any game-time? I think Souza is the perfect age (26) to make a difference on the national team --- he could get away with playing a withdrawn striker role regardless of which playmaker eventually gets the call-up by 2014 --- I just hope he gets more than the half Dunga gave him against Bolivia.

Tim, do you think the money involved in Brazil is harming the continental tournaments here, namely Copa Sudamericana - I've been told that São Paulo will probably field a reserve side against Libertad next month as the league is more important. Here in Paraguay the Copa Sudamericana is taken seriously because the prize money on offer to them (and TV rights) is so important.

What do you make of the rejection of a call up by young Gremio centre half Mario Fernandes? Could this rejection of the call up backfire as he may not be considered for another few years?

Great read as always Tim.

Sorry to go lightly off topic once again, but it shocked me how little time was given over in the UK to the Copa America, despite it being a much more entertaining tournament than either of the most recent European or World competitions. do you think the money now flooding into the Brazilian game, and it's clubs new found ability to attract and keep world stars, might lead to increased exposure in the European markets?

I am happy to read Sabella has selected the four Brazilian based players for this match-D'Alessandro, Guinazu and Bolatti of Inter de Porto Alegre and Montillo of Cruzeiro. Many have been calling for these players with the full national team (well maybe not so much with Guinazu) so this will be their opportunity to make a claim with Sabella for a place on the full national team. Lucas Viatri's recent good form at Boca gets rewarded too. There still are plenty of Velez players even w/o the injured Martinez but only 3 named from slumping Estudiantes.

D'Alessandro and Bolatti had brief chances with some previous Argentina coaches but this will be their first chance under Sabella. Montillo's Cruzeiro are not doing well this season but to the Brazil based readers (and Tim) I ask how has he personally done this season? I saw him last season in league play and in the Libertadores and he was superb. Velez' Canteros was a pleasant surprise. He looks to have a good future. I do not know why Lanus' Diego Valeri was not selected but I am thinking Sabella thought there may not have been room for him with Montillo and D'Alessandro on the roster.

I agree with an earlier poster, Vasco's Diego Souza is more of a media punta and I wonder how he would fit in to Mano Menezes current system which has Ronaldinho and Neymar flanking a center forward. Maybe play two holding midfielders then Neymar, Ronaldinho and Diego Souza behind a center forward?

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the issue remains. there will be reliance on counter attacking futebol from brasil until they find CMs capable of building play from the middle. i am not saying the selecao should stop attacking from fullback positions, but in order to restore the some shine back on brasilian style of play, he needs CMs. maybe hernanes should be given more chances i hope he gets a start this match against albiceleste. lucas (of liverpool) is good hard working player as is ramires but they don't seem to be the answer after 9 months playing together.

tim, aside from romolu, any other CMs that have caught your eye in brasileirao? valeu

So am I right in thinking that the Argentina-Brazil matches are similar to the idea of the Home Nations series in Britain? And you mentioned the return of this 'Classic' match; why was it cancelled in the first place?

#12 - rosarino

Unfortunately for Argentina, D’Alessandro will not play due to injury.

Also my personal opinion is that Montillo is playing way bellow 2010. In fact, Montillo is so important to Cruzeiro that his lack of form and irregular displays have impacted heavily on his team this year.

Interesting blog, Tim.

But I am starting to wonder how long Brazil’s coach will last if convincing wins don’t come on the next game or games. I would say Mano is on the verge of being sacked. What do you think Tim? For all the reasons that you have presented, do you think Mano’s job would come to an end if Brazil loses to Argentina?

Is it possible to see highlights of the match anywhere on tv or even live coverage?

Hi Tim,a bit off topic but would like to know if you think if Liedson is having a good season at Corinthians and if he could earn a call up to play for Portugal again? Also would like to know what you think about Elias that used to play for Corinthians,Atletico Madrid and now at Sporting,i seen a few games of him recently and think he is a really good midfielder that should earn regular call ups for the Selecao. Many thanks

Hi Tim

I just wondered how you, and the Brazilian national team manager, sees the four Brazilian English based centre midfielders - Anderson (Utd), Lucas (Liverpool), Ramires (Chelsea) and Sandro (Spurs) - who of those is rated higher and has the most potential for the future?

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Interesting i have never heard of this tournament before. I think it is pointless as it is all for bragging rights and the odd prize money

How far can the term "home-based player" be stretched if Argentina call up 4 players who play in Brazil? Does the term mean "playing on the continent" or "in the national league"?

Interesting as ever Tim, enjoyable insight.
South America certainly seems an ideal envirnoment for a sports writer to work in... Much more than just the action to explore.
#17 - I think I've seen the match advertised for live coverage on ESPN, in the early hours of Thursday morning UK time.

Good read as ever Tim. I get really frustrated by the lack of what I would call 'complete' midfielders in the modern game, and it's good to see Brazil perhaps doing something about it. The modern game has divided midfielders into those who can tackle and those who can pass a ball, meaning that there are very few who do both, perhaps because tactics dictate that they don't need to. I'm a Liverpool fan and I look at someone like Gerrard who really can do everything, yet he is afforded the luxury of strolling around where he can do the most damage. On the flip side, Lucas has been re-invented as a ball winning midfielder - a far cry from how he played for Gremio.

If tomalex92 cares to read the article again he will note that it is Brazil who have managed to "cobble a team together from only 195 people..."

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yeh like the constipated Argentinian....he couldn't pasadoble

Tim I finally thought I would get to argue with you when you said the Brasileiro was the most interesting in years. I hate September when no club wants to win the title and results seem to spin out of control. But yes there clearly is a change in the style of play on offer.
Eventually though you made some good points especially in responding to others' comments about the calendar, and the national team not helping Santos, (amongst others). I really am curious of how Corinthians seem to enjoy post international fixtures against teams whose star players have just returned, or are still away! (but thats my conspirousy theory).

I am not as enthusiastic about the Samba boys turning up, but I did watch the last game which was rather dull.

#15-Luiz

Thanks for your comments, since my prior post I too had read that D'Alessandro had to pull out of this match with an injury. Too bad for him and I do hope Sabella will give him another opportunity sometime down the road as Argentina can use a creative midfielder like he.

I figured Montillo has not been as effective as last season with Cruzeiro when he only finished behind Fluminense's Dario Conca as the top player in the tournament but I do see Montillo has 12 goals this season, 4th in the league behind Borges, Leandro Damiao and Ronaldinho, so he must be doing some things right this year. I do hope he will get playing time tomorrow night in Belem.

#29 – rosarino

I have no doubt about Montillo’s quality, based on what he did last year. But I can’t tell if his facing any (minor) injury or if it is his team’s performance that has hidden his game. Cruzeiro seemed very impressive at the first round of Libertadores and then they suddenly lost track. And they are out of track since then.

Anyway, I can’t extend on Montillo’s performances this year simply because Cruzeiro is close to relegation positions. So their games have not been widely broadcasted in Brazil. And I live in southern Brazil (quite far from Minas Gerais). My comments on #15 and 16 where based on sports news. And Montillo has not been mentioned lately. What also means he has not been criticized!

Lets see what comes at Brazil vs Argentina game. I just hope it is a better game than the previous one. Brazil seemed very dull but I hope they improve.

Best regards,
Luiz

Friendlies and qualification games are never indicative of a team's ability to perform well at an international tournament. The right blend for Brazil and Argentina will never be known by anyone, including Menezes/Sabella, until after 2014 has come and gone. It will be the right team/manager if they win, and the wrong team/manager if they lose.

All the Brazil teams Tim mentioned and we rhapsodize about ('58, '70, '82) were off-colour for long spells. In '58, Brazil were rather average until Pele and Garrincha were introduced in their THIRD group game. Then they exploded. In '70 there was a dearth of quality midfielders, and there were doubts that Pele, Rivelino, Tostao, and Gerson (all classic No 10's) could player together. We got magic. In the lead up to '82 Socrates (a striker) could not find his best form in any position. He ended up nominally on on the right side of midfield. Eder, Falcao, Leandro and Serginho came into the squad quite late. Cue orgasmic football. In '94, the captain, Rai, was off colour, three first choice centre backs were injured, there was no playmaker or quality winger. Brazil won. In '02 Scolari was pilloried for playing five defenders, and two defensive midfielders. Brazil won.

Likewise Argentina in the lead up to '78 were in a confused transition from a conservative approach to a more fluid, attacking style demanded by Menotti. They won with the rampaging duo Kempes and Luque. In '86 there were fears that average defenders, an unimaginative midfield and the lack of a traditional striker would negate Maradona's abilities. Argentina won with Valdona/Burruchaga raising their game.

Before '82 the Italians were considered too old and Rossi too rusty. They won. In '06 the Italians were no-hopers with ageing forwards and a poor midfield. They won.

If football were a science, England, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Germany and the USA would win everytime. Fortunately, a winning team requires a blend of ball skills, fitness, tactics, team work, and excellent team spirit. Two years is more than adequate tme to brew this mix.

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Carlos Tevez: is he toast at International level as well as club-level?

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#31-falcaocerezo

Very astute comments, there is no doubt teams whose form a year or two, or even more, before a tournament starts has little relevance on how they will do in the World Cup, otherwise teams like Colombia in 1994, Argentina in 2002 or Brazil in 2006 would have been World Cup winners. But I do think you can often tell by March of the year of a World Cup which teams are coming around well. Not to pat myself on the back but by March 2006 I had thought Italy had a good chance to win that year's World Cup and by March 2010, Spain were I thought favorites, along with Brazil, for that year's tourney. I can not recall in what form Brazil were in the few months leading up to 2002, (I do know they had a tumultous qualifying period but I am speaking about post qualifying here) but I think tales like Italy in 1982, where a seemingly struggling team suddenly gets it all right once the tournament starts, or in Italy's case, once the 2nd round started, are becoming the exception to the rule. World Cup winners, or top contenders, are by 3-4 months before the Cup starts rounding into form.

Of course we all know that Mano Menezes and Sabella will not have the luxury of ignoring results between now and early 2014, they have the obligation based on each nation's footballing traditions to win now and if they do not they will be replaced. It is the nature of the position they each hold.