Thursday night, or Friday morning depending on your location, will see the most intense round of South American World Cup qualifiers for some time as Argentina face Brazil with La Albiceleste sat outside the top five. Only the four highest ranked sides will make Russia outright, with fifth spot having to go through an inter-confederation play-off before booking their flight east. Undoubtedly the biggest game will kick off in Belo Horizonte at 00:45 CET, with hosts Brazil top of the group and on the back of four consecutive wins that have coincided with Tite's appointment to the dugout. Therefore, all the pressure will be on Argentina who welcome back Lionel Messi as they look for a first qualification victory since September 1, a 1-0 defeat of Uruguay. Second play third in another crucial game, kicking off at 00:00 CET in Montevideo between Uruguay and Ecuador.
Oscar Tabarez's men are unbeaten at home in the campaign so far and the absence of Edinson Cavani pales into comparison with Ecuador's injury and suspension problems, they'll be without nine first-team players as they look to cement their top-four status. Colombia's affairs with Chile are often spicy and this qualifier, taking place at 21:30 CET, will see fourth and fifth face off in a battle that will lack the injured Alexis Sanchez, potentially leaving centre stage open for James Rodriguez. Paraguay are harbouring hopes of making Russia with seven games left in qualification, sat one point off the play-offs and hosting a Peru side who've lost four of their five away games to this point. Finally, the bottom of the table clash between Venezuela and Bolivia will contain two sides in need of an absolute miracle to even threaten their presence at the 2018 World Cup. That kicks off at 00:30 CET.
The two giants of the international game meet at the Estadio Mineirao on Thursday, with the Juventus star aware that sixth-placed Argentina would struggle to come back from a defeat. "It is true that if we get the victory we will take a giant step towards our goal and that also dents the hopes of a nation that aspires to be at the World Cup," said Alves. Despite their poor recent form, the former Barcelona man admitted that they will have to monitor ex-Blaugrana teammate Lionel Messi if they are to come away with all three points. "We're going to try to neutralise him and compete without fear," he added. "I'm not afraid of facing Messi. "He's a different player, who has marked an era. It's difficult to compare because he's unique - he has a gift." Alves will captain the Canarinha against Argentina, and revealed that he intends to wear the No. 4 shirt in tribute to recently passed Brazil legend Carlos Alberto. He concluded: "We decided to pay him homage respecting the eternal captain, his family and his contribution to the Brazilian team."
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