Brazil desperate for
win against Peru

Brian Homewood

Four-times World champions Brazil, the only country to have played at all 16 World Cups, take on Peru on Wednesday knowing that defeat could leave their proud record in serious danger.

Brazil's reputation as world beaters is in tatters after a series of dismal performances and results in the South American World Cup qualifying group, culminating in last month's stunning 1-0 defeat in Ecuador.

Coach Emerson Leao, who has made sweeping changes with former world player of the year Rivaldo among the casualties, knows that the knives will be out should his team fail again.

The game will be played in Sao Paulo's Morumbi stadium and it's notoriously fickle crowd, which threw Brazilian flags onto the pitch in protest during Brazil's last match at the venue -- even though they beat Colombia 1-0.

Brazil have slumped to third in the group with 20 points from 11 games, only one ahead of Ecuador and two ahead of Colombia. Meanwhile, they are eight points behind leaders Argentina and three adrift of Paraguay.

Only the top four teams qualify automatically for Japan and South Korea next year, while the fifth plays off against the Oceania regions winners, so Brazil know they cannot afford any more slip ups.

Leao, who took over only six months ago, has included seven uncapped players in his squad and only three of the country's foreign-based stars.

He claimed that the others, Rivaldo and Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos included, are at their "maximum limit" after a long European season during which they have commuted once a month to South America.

The overseas players, however, have been accused of lack of effort. After the defeat by Ecuador, former captain Zico compared the players to civil servants "who just turn up for work to clock in."

"Let's be optimistic," said Leao when he was asked about the possible consequences of another defeat. "I don't think we can play that badly for two games in a row."

Peru are seventh with 11 points but, after a convincing 3-1 win over arch-rivals Chile last month, have rediscovered their confidence.

Peruvian hopes of victory will depend largely on whether German-based striker Claudio Pizarro is able to find his goal scoring touch at international level.

Pizarro is among the top scorers in the Bundesliga, but has managed only one goal in the World Cup qualifiers and has been guilty of some poor marksmanship. Had he been on form, Peru, who always create plenty of chances, would probably be several points better off.

Two other teams in desperate need of points meet Tuesday in Santiago when Chile, ravaged by injury and suspension, take on Uruguay.

Chile, missing Reinaldo Navia, Jorge Vargas, Ricardo Rojas and Miguel Ramirez through suspension and striker Marcelo Salas through injury, are languishing in eighth place with only ten points.

Uruguay are sixth after last month's home defeat by Paraguay and have slipped three points behind fifth-placed Colombia. They will be missing Juventus defender Paolo Montero, who picked up a second yellow card in the last match.

Colombia visit table-propping Venezuela, who have lost all but one of their eleven games.

Central defender Jorge Bermudez, captain of Argentine and South American champions Boca Juniors, is in Colombian squad and expected to play his first game for Colombia in nearly a year.

He was dropped following the 3-1 defeat at home to Argentina last June and then fell out with coach Luis Garcia. Colombia are without injured goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba, Bermudez' team mate at Boca.

Ecuador, who believe they have a chance of qualifying for their first World Cup, are at home to Paraguay at high altitude in Quito, where they have dropped only one point in six outings.

Paraguay, however, have a reasonable away record and have done well in their previous games at altitude, drawing with Bolivia in La Paz and beating Colombia in Bogota.

Argentina, virtually certain of qualifying, make the dreaded trip to La Paz, where they take on Bolivia at 3,600 metres above sea level.

Beaten 2-1 in their last World Cup match in La Paz four years ago, Argentine have left out striker Gabriel Batistuta and replaced with Juan Esnaider.