Brazil v Argentina: Five memorable moments as latest battle could shape World Cup qualifying
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Brazil v Argentina memorable moments
It’s the big one folks, as perhaps the bitterest footballing rivalry in South America takes centre stage on Thursday. Yes, we’re talking about the latest volume in the battle that is Brazil v Argentina – and this time the stakes are high…
Forget fierce club rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, when it comes to country clashes, it doesn’t get more classic than this. Some of the world’s biggest sporting superstars will assemble for this glamour game and crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier.
We’re only on matchday 11 of 18, with 24 points still to play for. But could this encounter prove key?
Win it away on enemy turf and Argentina (5/2 for match victory with Coral) are boosted, but lose and La Albiceleste fall even further behind in the CONMEBOL standings.
With their following two qualifiers against close rivals Colombia and Chile, who are hogging the last automatic qualification space and play-off place respectively, it’s squeaky bum time for the Argentines.
Brazil (even-money match favourites), meanwhile, are sitting pretty in first place, but face second spot Uruguay in two matchdays, so could use this timely clash for confidence too.
With all this in mind, Coral have picked out five Brazil v Argentina memorable moments and matches from the archives…enjoy!
Argentina 0-0 Brazil (1978 World Cup)
‘The Battle of Rosario’ as it was dubbed, saw the Samba Boys and La Albiceleste grind out a vicious, tense and bad-tempered stalemate in Group B of the second round in the 1978 World Cup.
The ferocious fixture ending evenly allowed the Argentines an advantage, with Brazil playing next opponents Poland earlier.
Argentina then knew by how many goals they had to beat Peru, and controversy surrounded the subsequent 6-0 drubbing which handed eventual champions La Albiceleste a place in the final v the Netherlands ahead of the Samba Boys. If the seeds of a great rivalry weren’t already sewn, they were now…
Argentina 1-3 Brazil (1982 World Cup)
Sparks flew in the second round ‘group of death’ as Argentina found themselves placed in a 1982 World Cup pool with Brazil and Italy. Having been defeated already by the Azzurri, this was a must-win for the Argentines but they were up against a silky Samba side starring Zico and Socrates that ran rings around their rivals.
Eventual world champions Italy were the team to progress, but not before Brazil confirmed a South American power shift by battering La Albiceleste 3-1 (a modest scoreline!) and Diego Maradona saw straight red for kicking out at Batista da Silva.
Brazil 2-2 Argentina (1995 Copa America)
England fans will like this one. Just desserts were dished out to Argentina as they suffered from a poor refereeing decision regarding a handball, uncannily similar to Maradona’s ‘hand of God.’
This time the so-called ‘hand of the devil’ came in the form of a last-gasp handled goal from Brazil’s Tulio to draw the Copa America quarter-final clash 2-2 at the death. Penalties followed and this time the Russian roulette of spot-kicks finished in the Samba Boys’ favour – much to Argentine anger!
Take a look at the vintage footage featuring Dunga:
Argentina 2-2 Brazil (2004 Copa America)
Another Copa clash here but this time a dramatic final that ended evenly at 2-2, with the South American giants unable to split in normal time despite goals from the likes of Adriano Leite.
Adriano scored in the last minute to stun La Albiceleste and force spot-kicks in the Copa America once more. And it was Brazil, lacking many usual starters, that prevailed again, thanks to a heroic save from Julio Caesar and his cat-like reflexes.
Brazil 4-1 Argentina (2005 Confederations Cup)
In the 2005 Confederations Cup final, Brazil bested La Albiceleste 4-1 thanks to strikes from the modern-day classic attacking line-up of Adriano, Kaka and Ronaldinho, while Robinho also starred alongside the once tremendous trio.
Pablo Aimar grabbed a consolation goal for Argentina in a team of talents like mercurial Juan Riquelme, Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Carlos Tevez.
Then world champs Brazil (9/1 with Coral to win the 2018 World Cup) somehow had a field day on their way to clinching the title. Remember the great goals from Kaka and co below:
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