MATCH 18 PREVIEW : BRAZIL AND PARAGUAY FIGHT FOR TOP SPOT

Brazil and Paraguay play tonight, in Arequipa, with top honors in Group C of Copa America at stake. The Brazilians, who have 6 points, will take top spot with a draw in the group that also includes Chile and Costa Rica. The Paraguayans must win the match to be held at 7:45 pm local time, at the UNSA Stadium.

Since they will close the last round of the first phase, Brazilians and Paraguayans will take to the pitch knowing the ideal result to achieve in order to choose which opponents they will face in the next phase. If Brazil end first in Group C, they might clash with Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile or even Costa Rica, (if they beat the Chileans in the fixture held before Brazil X Paraguay). Runners-up in this group will meet Mexico in the quarterfinals.

Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira did not announce the team that will face Paraguay tonight. Most probably, the manager will start the match without the players who have been yellow-carded, the likes of Diego, Luis Fabiano, Edu, Dudu Cearense, Juan and Mancini. On the other hand, he might field his first-choice players in order to win top spot in the group and avoid clashing with Mexico in the quarterfinals.

Carlos Jara Saguier will put his best team on the pitch. It is important to remember that Paraguay traveled to the Copa América with their Under-23 side, who will take part in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. In regards to the squad, "El Bambino" expressed he has several doubts due to the fatigue of some players, such as Aureliano Torres and Derlis Gonzalez, not to mention the injured Devaca and Figueredo, dismissed by the doctors. Paraguay have 4 points, Brazil 6, Chile 1 and Costa Rica, none.

Brazil and Paraguay have met 26 times in the history of Copa América. The Brazilians won 14 matches to Paraguay´s 5, with 7 draws. Brazil scored 58 goals and Paraguay 25. In their last encounter, in the 2001 Copa América, Brazil were 3-1 winners, in Colombia.

BRAZIL: Julio César, Maicon (Mancini), Juan, Luisao and Gustavo Nery; Renato, Kleberson, Julio Baptista (Edu) and Alex; Adriano and Luís Fabiano (Vágner Love). Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

PARAGUAY: Justo Villar, Emilio Martinez, Carlos Gamarra, Pedro Benitez and Ernesto Cristaldo; Edgar Barreto, Carlos Paredes, David Villalba and Celso Esquível; Fredy Bareiro and Julio dos Santos. Coach: Carlos Jara Saguier

Venue: Estádio Universidad Nacional San Agustín

Referee: Gilberto Hidalgo (PER)

Assistant Referees: Winston Reategui (PER) and Dember Perdomo (URU)

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