Brazil face Argentina in a winner-takes-all clash

MONTEVIDEO, Tuesday (AFP) World Cup champions Brazil face arch rivals Argentina on Wednesday night in a winner-takes-all clash with the victors earning a berth for next year's 32-nation World Cup finals.

Huge prestige awaits the winners such is the interest surrounding the fixture. Fans spent the night of Sunday to Monday outside River Plate's Monumental stadium hoping to buy tickets with a queue that extended two kilometres and that was eight-people wide.

Riot police with batons and shields at one point intervened to control the thousands of people as scuffles broke out.

Argentina, in the shadow of Brazil, who have won two out of three World Cup finals during the last decade, have a point to prove but this fixture is always treated with huge respect by both sides.

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira told the Brazilian press: "It's not something that you can put into words. Let's be clear though, it's a rivalry that is limited to football and doesn't extend to politics or culture. "Argentinians don't hate Brazilians or vice-versa."

The Uruguayan referee of the fixture, Gustavo Mendez, hoped the clash would inspire a party spirit rather than a warlike attitude. He told Clarin.com: "The term war does not correspond to a wonderful sport such as soccer. I hope it is more of a celebration than a war."

Brazil do have a point to prove having lost their last two games at the Monumental stadium and not having won there in nearly a decade.

Parreira has led Brazil against Argentina seven times but only twice at this particular venue - when they lost 1-0 in 1983 but drew 1-1 in 1993 - and he is out to vastly improve those statistics with a win. Brazil beat Argentina 3-1 at home in Belo Horizonte just over a year ago and will want to avoid what happened in 2002 qualifiers when they first won 3-1 at home before losing 2-1 in Argentina after going a goal ahead. Brazil are going into the match in good spirits, having beaten Paraguay 4-1 on Sunday, though that cannot be said for their opponents who lost their unbeaten record in a 2-0 defeat away to Ecuador on Saturday.

Argentina lead the 10-nation, South American World Cup qualifying table with 28 points and Brazil now have 27 points from their 14 matches. The top four qualify automatically with the fifth-placed team playing off with the Oceania winners. Parreira however continues to do without midfielder Juninho Pernambucano who pulled a hamstring in training though he is expected to recover in time for the Confederations Cup in Germany from June 15 to 29.

Brazil team doctors confirmed Juninho would definitely not be playing against the Argentinians. Third placed Ecuador - who are bidding for their second successive finals appearance - will look to continue their fine form with at least a point in a tough away trip to Colombia.