Argentina ready for Brazil clash in Saudi Arabia

Jeddah - According to Fifa, this will be the 105th time the South American arch-rivals have faced each other in an official match

Argentina may be without superstar Lionel Messi but the two-time world champions simply must beat Brazil in a friendly in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero says.
According to Fifa, this will be the 105th time the South American arch-rivals have faced each other in an official match, with Brazil marginally ahead on 40 wins to 38, with 26 draws.
And while Brazil, record five-time winners of the World Cup, have picked most of their star names, Argentina are without the likes of Manchester City's in-form forward Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain of AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria, as well as Messi.
"I would love Messi to be here because that would give us a boost in quality," said Romero, back in the Argentina squad following a knee injury that prevented him from featuring in two friendlies in September.
Messi is believed to have asked for some time off from international duty ahead of next year's Copa America in Brazil.
Argentina have not missed Messi too much so far, beating Iraq 4-0 in Riyadh on Thursday, having beaten Guatemala 3-0 in September, when they also drew 0-0 with Colombia.
Interim coach Lionel Scaloni picked an inexperienced line-up to face Iraq. It will likely be a different-looking XI in Jeddah to take on a Brazil team that laboured to a 2-0 win over hosts Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Friday.
Despite featuring the likes of PSG star Neymar and Manchester City's returning forward Gabriel Jesus, Tite's side struggled on a muggy night in the Arabian desert. 
But with Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino of Liverpool likely to play too, Brazil won't need any help in getting fired up to face the Albiceleste.
"Any game against Argentina is different, it takes on a huge dimension and we all know what this encounter means," said Inter Milan defender Miranda.
"Our team has prepared well and we hope to play a great match and win."
But just like Scaloni, Tite wants to give some younger players a chance to prove their worth.
He said it's a match "between two teams undergoing a renovation. Here, we're giving opportunities to youngsters."
The two sides last met in June 2017 in a friendly in Australia, won 1-0 by Argentina, but Brazil romped to a 3-0 success in their last competitive fixture, a World Cup qualifier in November 2016.