Argentina’s midfielder Javier Mascherano (L) gestures next to forward Ezequiel Lavezzi during a training session in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires.

DPA/Buenos Aires


Stuttering Argentina are obliged to beat old enemy Brazil tomorrow to revitalize a World Cup qualifying campaign that has started badly.
But they will have to do so without several injury victims, including captain Lionel Messi.
The Barcelona idol is still recovering from an injury to his left knee sustained while playing for the Catalans in September.
Without their leader, Argentina have picked up just one point from their first two matches in the South American qualifiers and, alarmingly, are seventh out of 10 in the standings.
The top four teams will qualify directly for the finals in Russia and the fifth-placed team will go into the inter-confederation play-offs.
“Of course we are worried,” Argentina manager Gerardo Martino said.
“Our first two games have not gone well. We cannot use Messi’s absence as an excuse, since we cannot depend on just one player ...  We have turned in good performances without Messi in the past, and we must do so again Thursday.”

more injuries
Argentina’s other injury victims are Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Ezequiel Garay, while veteran Carlos Tevez is touch-and-go.  Martino has called up youngsters Gino Peruzzi and Jonatan Maidana, and has recalled Gonzalo Higuain after leaving him out for the first two games.
Higuain is not a popular figure in Argentina nowadays, after missing the crucial penalty in the shoot-out against Chile in the Copa America final in July.
Five days after the Brazil clash, Argentina will travel to Colombia for another difficult challenge.
Brazil have not made a much better start in the qualifiers than Argentina, and will come to Buenos Aires with three points from their two matches and with coach Dunga under massive pressure.
Brazil’s injury absentees will be defenders Marcelo and Marquinhos, who Dunga has replaced with Gabriel Paulista and Douglas Santos.
“Playing away to Argentina is never an easy game. They are an excellent team, even without Messi ... You can never relax against them,” Dunga said.
The good news for the embattled Dunga is that Neymar is eligible after serving a suspension for violent conduct at the Copa America in June. Neymar is in sublime form at the moment, having scored five goals for Barcelona in three games.
After visiting Argentina, Brazil will host struggling Peru.
Thursday will also see leaders Uruguay at surprise package Ecuador, who are second.
Uruguay will have Edinson Cavani back from suspension but will again be without Luis Suarez, who is still banned for his biting antics at the 2014 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Copa America winners Chile - who have won their first two games, the same as Uruguay and Ecuador - will host Colombia.
“We have made a great start to our campaign, with those wins against Brazil and Peru,” Chile keeper Claudio Bravo said.
“Now we have to continue in the same line .. .Chilean football is strong at the moment, and our aim now is to qualify for our third straight World Cup.”
Also tomorrow, Bolivia will host Venezuela - in a clash between the two bottom teams - and Peru will also be looking for their first points, at home to Paraguay.