‘It’s not a friendly’: Bobo predicts fiery Superclasico at the MCG

A competitive Superclasico could be one of the best games ever played in Australia, says former Brazil youth international Bobo, who believes the upcoming clash between Argentina and Brazil at the MCG in June has all the hallmarks of an epic with so many World Cup squad spots on the line.

The two South American heavyweights accepted an offer to play their rescheduled World Cup qualifier in Australia, bringing a competitive, continental match outside the Americas for the first time in their history. Both teams have already secured qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with Brazil topping their standings and Argentina locked in for second spot.

While the result won’t influence either team’s standing or passage to Qatar, Bobo says the fixture will carry a sense of desperation as if it was a live qualifier, with players of both sides treating this as their final audition for a ticket to the World Cup.

“If you have a chance to go, go there. It will be a great game to watch. I don’t think you will have another chance to watch something like this,” he said. “It’s not a friendly game. They are fighting to be in the team for the World Cup.”

Lionel Messi playing at the MCG in 2017.Credit: Paul Rovere

Due to the revised international match calendar, this June window will be the second last before squads are announced for the November tournament in Qatar. There will be just one window remaining for possible friendlies, in September. Few national teams are as competitive for places as Brazil. The five-time world champions have called-up 50 players over the past 12 months.

Arguably, breaking into the Argentina squad is even more difficult. Coach Lionel Scaloni has selected 58 players during the past 12 months, in what has been somewhat of a transitional year for the squad.

“Brazil will come here to win this game. I think it’s the last game before the Brazilian coach will choose the squad for the World Cup,” Bobo said.

Sydney FC’s Bobo played 13 games for Brazil’s youth teams. Credit: Getty

The 37-year-old Sydney FC striker is no stranger to South America’s biggest rivalry. He made 13 appearances for Brazil’s under-20s side and was part of an extremely promising squad for the 2005 youth World Cup in The Netherlands, with would-be Selecao regulars Rafinha and Felipe Luis among his teammates.

While the burden to succeed wasn’t as great as Brazil’s senior team, the pain of being eliminated by an Argentina team even at youth level stung Bobo. It didn’t matter that the Albiceleste that day boasted the core of the team that finished second at the 2014 World Cup, including a young Leo Messi.

“When Brazil play against Argentina we never have a friendly game,” he said. “I played a semi-final in the under-20 World Cup in Holland against Argentina, we lost 2-1. We played against Messi, [Sergio] Aguero, [Pablo] Zabaleta. Messi scored one ... for us, it was a big disappointment.”

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