messi-higuain (argentina)
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
VENEZUELA  Vega Rosales, Amorebieta, Vizcarrondo, Cichero Alvarez, Rincon, Arango, C. Gonzalez Fedor, Rondon | ARGENTINA  Andujar Burdisso, Demichelis, Otamendi Zabaleta, Sosa, Mascherano, Rojo, Messi, Higuain, Di Maria |
The Vinotinto team to face Argentina will have a rather different look to that which toiled in Quito. Cesar Farias plans to change all 10 outfield players who started Friday's 2-0 defeat, with goalkeeper Renny Vega the only man to appear in both starting XIs.
Argentina will welcome back Martin Demichelis and Javier Mascherano following their enforced absences against Chile. The Barca man completed a one-match suspension after being sent off against Uruguay in the Copa America, while Demichelis was left out as a precaution after fainting during training. Ever Banega and Rodrigo Brana give up their places, while coach Alejandro Sabella considers a switch to a three-man defence in order to take the game to the hosts.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Venezuela have played Argentina 19 times, and the historical record does not smile upon the Vinotinto.
- Argentina have won every single game played between the two nations, the most recent being a 1-0 win in Kolkata thanks to a goal from Nicolas Otamendi (pictured).
- The biggest ever victory was an 11-0 humiliation in the 1975 Copa America, with aptly-named defender Daniel Killer netting a hat-trick.
- Before his goal against Chile on Friday, Lionel Messi had not found the net in an official international since a 4-0 victory over Tuesday's rivals back in March 2009.
- The Vinotinto's biggest stars, including Juan Arango and Salomon Rondon, are back for this game after Cesar Farias took the unusual step of picking a separate squad for their first match against Ecuador.
- This 'B' team was composed of players the innovative coach believed would better withstand the altitude of Quito; but it did not pay off as Ecuador cruised to a 2-0 win.
- Venezuela are currently the only team in the Conmebol region not to have appeared in a World Cup.
- Argentina, meanwhile, have lifted the trophy on two occasions, 1978 and 1986, and only in 1970 have they failed to qualify; although they withdrew from contention between 1938 and 1954 for various political and administrative reasons.
Prediction
Argentina will have to work every second to beat a tough Vinotinto, but their class up front should be enough to secure a narrow victory.
Editor's Prediction
Venezuela 1-2 Argentina 
