Di Maria, 35, showed that he had fully recovered from a leg muscle injury with a lively second-half cameo in Argentina's 2-0 home defeat to Uruguay last Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"There is a chance that Di Maria will be a starter ... [but] the idea is not to touch the team too much,\" Scaloni told a news conference on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Di Maria has been touted as a possible replacement for Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez for the match at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium on Tuesday. Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez could also earn a start for the reigning world champions in the place of Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Scaloni stressed that he did not intend to send any negative messages to his players, reports Xinhua.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"There will likely be some changes but that won't be due to their performances [against Uruguay]. I'm not going to change the team because of one good or bad game. Any changes will be specifically based on the characteristics of the opponent that we face.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Argentina remains top of the 10-team South American qualifying group with 12 points from five games, two points ahead of second-placed Uruguay. Brazil is fifth, having lost two and drawn one of its past three qualifiers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Scaloni said his players would not underestimate the five-time world champion despite their erratic form under manager Fernando Diniz, who was appointed manager in July following the departure of Tite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Brazil are always dangerous opponents, irrespective of the result of their last match,\" Scaloni said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The qualifier will mark Argentina's return to the scene of their 2021 Copa America triumph, a result that ended a 28-year title drought. Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the final at a Maracana stadium that had no fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This time around, the Albiceleste can expect a much more raucous atmosphere with a sell-out crowd expected at the 78,000-seat venue. Either way, Argentina will not be basking in past glory at Brazilian football's spiritual home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We are playing against Brazil on their own turf. It won't help us to think about the Copa America,\" Scaloni said. \"That happened two and a half years ago. A lot has happened since then and the players in both teams are different. We have to focus on the present because that is what's important.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/11\/argentina-mulling-di-maria-return-for-brazil-clash.jpeg", "alt_img": "Argentina mulling Di Maria return for Brazil clash", "alt_title": "Argentina mulling Di Maria return for Brazil clash", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Argentina Mulling Di Maria Return For Brazil Clash On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Argentina Mulling Di Maria Return For Brazil Clash, Angel Di Maria: Veteran winger Angel Di Maria could return to Argentina's starting lineup for the team's FIFA World Cup.", "seo_keywords": "Di Maria, Buenos Aires, Angel Di Maria, FIFA World Cup, Lionel Scaloni, Nico Gonzalez, Inter Milan, Lautaro Martinez, Manchester City, Julian Alvarez, But Scaloni, South American, Fernando Diniz, Copa America", "tag": "", "tagging": "Di Maria, Buenos Aires, Angel Di Maria, FIFA World Cup, Lionel Scaloni, Nico Gonzalez, Inter Milan, Lautaro Martinez, Manchester City, Julian Alvarez, But Scaloni, South American, Fernando Diniz, Copa America", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "argentina-mulling-di-maria-return-for-brazil-clash", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "543", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2023-11-21 09:48:03", "updated": "2023-11-21 09:48:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Di Maria, Buenos Aires, Angel Di Maria, FIFA World Cup, Lionel Scaloni, Nico Gonzalez, Inter Milan, Lautaro Martinez, Manchester City, Julian Alvarez, But Scaloni, South American, Fernando Diniz, Copa America", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2023-11-21 09:48:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "football", "cnmid": "825823", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/argentina-mulling-di-maria-return-for-brazil-clash-10507" }