Brazil predicts end to winless run in Argentina in World Cup qualifier

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Brazil has not won in Argentina for 16 years and hasn't scored in Argentina in 10 years.

That didn't put off Brazil striker Raphinha, who kicked off the hostilities on Monday by promising to score against the World Cup holder in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a 2026 qualifier.

Raphinha also spoke about “kicking them” ... “on and off the pitch if needed” in a podcast with 1994 World Cup winner Romário.

Argentine media reproduced his comments widely.

Coach Lionel Scaloni tried to tamper any tensions.

“I did not go deep into that statement but I know what people told me. It is Argentina vs. Brazil, it is always an important game, but it is a game of soccer,” Scaloni said. “I remember the image of the final of the 2021 Copa America, Messi and Neymar sitting down at the Maracana Stadium. That is the image that all of us have to remember.”

Defender Marquinhos piled on by saying Brazil was set to break its 16-year winless streak in Argentina.

"It is our time to win now. It has been a while,” Marquinhos said in a press conference on Monday. "It won’t be easy, we will fight. We will have to be at our best both physically and mentally.”

Argentina, leading South America, can clinch a World Cup berth by drawing with third-placed Brazil with four rounds to spare.

The teams will meet in Monumental de Nunez Stadium without injured stars Lionel Messi and Neymar, and minus several other players due to suspension or injury.

They last met in 2023, when Argentina won 1-0 at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro at the start of this qualifying cycle.

Brazil is one point ahead of Uruguay and Paraguay. Colombia has the sixth and final direct qualification position.

Fourth-placed Uruguay will have a chance againat Bolivia to recover from Friday's 1-0 home defeat to Argentina. If the Bolivians fail to beat the Uruguayans, Argentina will qualify for the World Cup even if it loses against Brazil.

Colombia takes on Paraguay. Ecuador will travel to 10th-placed Chile. Venezuela will host ninth-placed Peru.

Argentina also won't have injured Lautaro Martínez and the suspended Nico González.

After the 1-0 away victory against Uruguay, three players appear to have the confidence of Scaloni: Midfielders Leandro Paredes and Giuliano Simeone and striker Thiago Almada, who scored the winner. They are expected to play against Brazil, too.

Brazil will miss goalkeeper Alisson due to concussion protocols, plus the suspended Bruno Guimarães and Gabriel Magalhães. Coach Dorival Júnior said he will make six changes for the clash in Buenos Aires, including the replacement of target man João Pedro — who didn't score in the last-minute 2-1 win against Colombia — for Matheus Cunha.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brazil's Raphinha, center, and teammates celebrate their team's 2-1 victory over Colombia at the end of a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, March 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Fans of Argentina celebrate as their team defeated Uruguay during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent outfielder Max Kepler was suspended for 80 games on Friday following a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball's drug program.

Kepler tested positive for Epitrenbolone, a substance that led to a suspension in 2018 for boxer Manuel Charr and caused the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to announced the following year it had disqualified 90-year-old cyclist Carl Grove from a world record he had set at the 2018 Masters Track National Championship.

Epitrenbolone is a metabolite of Trenbolone, which is contained in some products used in body-building stores and had been used in products to promote cattle growth.

Kepler, who turns 33 next month, is an 11-year major league veteran, who spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies after playing his first 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

FILE - Philadelphia Phillies' Max Kepler during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)