Argentina vs. Brazil: Sampaoli's debut.

(Baonghean.vn) - At 5:15 PM on June 9th (Vietnam time), the South American El Clasico between Argentina and Brazil will take place at Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. This is the first official match for the 'Tango Dancers' under coach Sampaoli's reign.

Although it was only a friendly match, the clash between these two giants of world football did not diminish the attention of fans, especially those supporting the Argentine national team. After a series of disappointments under coach Tata Martino and then under coach Bauza, fans of "the land of Tango" are waiting for changes in their team thanks to the tactical skills of the new head coach Sampaoli. There is no better "test" for Messi and his teammates than their arch-rival Brazil.

Sampaoli (right) on his debut as head coach of the Argentina national team. Photo: Internet.

After much speculation, the hot seat at the Argentina national team finally went to Sampaoli. Many experts believe that the union between the former Sevilla coach and his hometown team is like "a match made in heaven." Indeed, throughout the years, Sampaoli has always shown a strong desire to become the head coach of the Argentina national team and lead Messi.

The dream has now come true, and Sampaoli's task is nothing less than building the Albicelestes into a powerful team, overcoming the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in South America and winning the title in Russia next summer.

The Argentine national team has found a reliable name to steer the ship that is teetering on the brink of sinking. With Sampaoli in the team, fans of the blue and white striped jerseys can feel somewhat reassured about the position on the coaching bench.

It's no exaggeration to say that, for almost a decade, Sampaoli has been the coach who has received the most trust from experts, players, and fans of the Argentine national team. Therefore, his debut match against Brazil, even though it was just a friendly, was eagerly anticipated by many.

On the other side of the battlefield, the yellow-and-green team entered this battle with great ease. To prepare for the clash with their arch-rivals, Argentina, coach Tite did not call up high-performing stars like Neymar, Alves, Marcelo... instead, he only selected players who rarely featured in the starting lineup for the national team in recent times.

But that doesn't mean we should underestimate the fighting spirit and desire to win of the Brazilian team. The honor of this South American El Clasico cannot be taken lightly by coach Tite and his players.

Messi (left) vies for the ball with Neymar during a match between the two teams in November 2016. Photo: Internet.

Another victory against their hated neighbors would confirm the resurgence of the five-time World Cup champions. Furthermore, the match against Argentina would allow coach Tite to discover new players to provide backup for key players and increase squad depth.

The players called up this time also see this as an opportunity to prove themselves and gain the trust of coach Tite. In a footballing nation as rich in talent as Brazil, being included in the national team is a tremendous honor.

Considering all of this, it's clear that the match between Argentina and Brazil in Australia is not simply a meaningless contest with a strong commercial purpose. Neither team views this as a casual outing, like most other friendly matches.

Will coach Tite continue his winning streak with the Brazilian national team, or will new head coach Sampaoli help his team settle the score from last November?

Thanh Hung