Raphinha vows that Brazil will beat Argentina in their crucial world cup qualifier
Raphinha has vowed that Brazil will “beat up” Argentina ahead of their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying clash at the Estadio Mas Monumental.
The Barcelona forward, who has netted 27 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions this season, has also guaranteed he will score a goal against Lionel Scaloni’s side.
The Barcelona forward was on target in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia with an early penalty, with Vinicius Junior’s late strike moving the Selecao up to third in the qualifying table.
But Argentina, who are six points clear in the standings, have had the better of this fabled fixture, last losing to the Selecao in the semi-finals of the 2019 Copa America.
However, the Selecao have not won on Argentine turf since 2009, with Luis Fabiano’s brace sealing a 3-1 win in Rosario in another World Cup qualifying campaign.
And though the five-times world cup winners are only favored in 23.4% of Opta’s data-led simulations to win, Raphinha said he would do everything in his power to help his team to victory.
“We’ll beat them up… Absolutely! Beat them up! On the pitch and off the pitch if we have to,” Raphinha said in an interview on ‘Romario TV’
“For sure, I’m going to (score a goal against Argentina). I’m going in with everything I’ve got…”
Raphinha’s comments caused uproar in Argentina, with local media calling his “harsh words” a threat.
But Argentina manager Scaloni chose to downplay the rivalry, emphasising sportsmanship over hostility ahead of the eagerly-anticipated clash.
“Warriors on the pitch, good friends off of it,” Scaloni told a press conference later on Monday.
“I didn’t go much deeper into players’ statements but I’m aware of it. Argentina versus Brazil is an important match but it is still a football match. It doesn’t have to go beyond that.
“I remember the image of Leo (Messi) with Neymar after the Copa America final on the steps of the Maracana, that’s the image we have to keep.
“The best in the world and probably the second best together, being friends. That’s the image we need.
“It’s a football match that we both want to win. We all have a Brazilian friend. I know a lot of them. It shouldn’t go beyond that. We don’t have to give it much more thought.”
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