Brazil expect fit Adriano to face Argentina in final

Brazil expect Adriano to recover in time for today's Confederations Cup final against Argentina when one of the fiercest rivalries in world soccer resumes on unfamiliar territory.

Adriano, who scored twice in Brazil's 3-2 semi-final win over hosts Germany on Saturday, limped out of Monday's training with an ankle injury but the team doctor said he should be fit.

Brazil, the five times World Cup winners, and Argentina, twice former world champions, will be playing their 40th competitive match - and their fourth in Europe.

Argentina should be clear favourites after beating Brazil 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier as recently as June 8 but Brazil beat Argentina a year ago to win the Copa America, albeit with a penalty shoot-out victory in the final.

If Brazil win today they will become only the second country after France to hold three senior FIFA titles at the same time: the World Cup, their continental crown and the Confederations Cup. France achieved that feat in 2001.

Jose Pekerman's Argentina team looked exhausted as they beat Mexico 6-5 on penalties in the second semi-final in Hanover on Sunday, after a gruelling match ended 1-1 after extra time.

Brazil had enjoyed a relatively straightforward win over Germany 24 hours earlier in Nuremberg and the mauling they received in that last meeting in Argentina will be a powerful incentive.

"The final will be a great source of motivation," Ronaldinho said. "It will be a great game against a great team.

"We want to end the season on a high note by winning this title. You forget about how tired you are when it's a final. We'll shrug it off."

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will be keen to prove that his ultra-attacking formation can be effective against top class opposition.

He will be asking for one final sacrifice from his four regular forwards, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho and Adriano, if the latter is fit.

"He was taken off as a precaution," doctor Jose Luiz Runco said of a player who also scored a great goal in Brazil's opening 3-0 win over Greece. "I don't believe he's a doubt for Wednesday (today).

"We'll use ice on the left ankle and he should be able to resume training."

Pekerman will be forced into one change, with Javier Saviola suspended after picking up a red card in the semi-final. Carlos Tevez should return in his place.

The coach can recall centre-back Walter Samuel after he was suspended for the semi-final, but Gabriel Milito performed well enough in his absence and could keep his place.

Most of the previous games between Brazil and Argentina have come in friendly internationals, World Cup qualifiers and the Copa America.

They have met four times in the World Cup finals, three of them in Europe.

Brazil beat Argentina 2-1 in Hanover when the World Cup was held in West Germany in 1974. The Brazilians won again in Barcelona in 1982, an explosive 3-1 success that is remembered for a red card shown to Diego Maradona.

Argentina gained revenge in 1990 when they beat Brazil 1-0 in the round of 16.

Brazil and Argentina are the two most successful teams in FIFA competition history.

Brazil boast a total of 16 titles, including a record five World Cups, while Argentina have eight, including two World Cups.

Brazil are also looking to become the second country after France to win the competition twice after their victory in the inaugural competition in 1997. Argentina won the forerunner, the FIFA International Championship in 1992.

Germany and Mexico, the two beaten semi-finalists, meet in the third-place match in Leipzig earlier today.

Probable teams

Brazil: Dida; Cicinho, Lucio, Roque Junior, Gilberto; Kaka, Emerson, Ze Roberto, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Robinho.

Argentina: German Lux; Javier Zanetti, Fabricio Coloccini, Gabriel Milito, Gabriel Heinze; Esteban Cambiasso, Mario Santana, Juan Roman Riquelme, Juan Pablo Sorin; Carlos Tevez, Luciano Figueroa.

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia FA).

Kick-off: 8.45 p.m. - Frankfurt.

Third-place play-off: Germany vs Mexico - 5.45 p.m., Leipzig.

Key Brazil-Argentina matches...

In all, Brazil and Argentina have met 88 times, with 33 wins each in a rich footballing rivalry dating back to 1914.

June 30, 1974 - HANOVER, West Germany

Brazil 2 Argentina 1 - Their first ever meeting outside South America ended with Brazil winning 2-1 in a group match in the World Cup finals. Brazil took the lead with a left-foot thunderbolt from Rivelino from outside the box. Midfielder Miguel Angel Brindisi equalised with a fine free-kick for an Argentine side that included a young Mario Kempes.

Jairzinho struck the winner from outside the box to send Brazil into a group decider, effectively a semi-final, with Johan Cruyff's Dutch total-football masters.

July 2, 1982 - BARCELONA, Spain

Brazil 3 Argentina 1 - Another fine Brazilian side ended Argentina's reign as world champions with a 3-1 victory in their World Cup second round group match at the Sarria stadium.

Inspired by midfielders Falcao and Socrates, the Brazilians raced into a 3-0 lead with goals from Zico, Serginho and Junior.

A frustrated 21-year-old Diego Maradona, reacting to a foul on fellow midfielder Juan Barbas, kicked an opponent and was sent off in the 85th minute.

Ramon Diaz scored a consolation goal for Argentina.

24 June, 1990 - TURIN, Italy

Argentina 1 Brazil 0 - Brazil were all over another Argentina side defending the World Cup who, having been upset 1-0 by Cameroon in the tournament's opening game, had scraped into the second round knockout match as a third-placed team from the group stage. But the Brazilians failed to convert their chances and Diego Maradona, hobbling on one good ankle, put Claudio Caniggia away with a sublime pass for the only goal 10 minutes from time.

The match was in the news again recently because of the controversy of Brazil defender Branco allegedly drinking contaminated water from a bottle handed to him by the Argentine bench.

Sebastiao Lazaroni's side went home unexpectedly early for a Brazilian team while Maradona managed to inspire his troops all the way to a second successive final in Rome which they lost to West Germany.

¤ There is parity in the five meetings so far this century with four World Cup qualifiers - two for the 2002 finals in Asia and two for next year in Germany - going to the home team.

¤ Only penalties separated the teams in their other meeting so far this century when Brazil won the 2004 Copa America final in Lima in a shoot-out after a 2-2 draw.