Argentina, Brazil face-off for Olympics final

BIG BOYS: Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina have negotiated Ivory Coast, Australia, Serbia and the Netherlands to get to the last four.

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Beijing: One of football's combustible rivalries is rekindled with defending champions Argentina taking on Brazil here on Tuesday for a place in the Olympic Games final.

The Argentines, inspired by Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, have negotiated Ivory Coast, Australia, Serbia and the Netherlands to get to the last four, with Messi scoring two of their seven goals.

Despite being five-time World Cup winners, Brazil have yet to win the Olympic gold medal, coming up short twice in their final appearances in 1984 and 1988.

The Brazilians, spearheaded by AC Milan's Ronaldinho, yet have to concede a goal in putting a total of 11 goals past Belgium, New Zealand, China and former champions Cameroon.

In 93 internationals, Brazil edge Argentina 35-34 with 24 drawn, but even though the Olympic football competition is geared for under-23 players, teams are allowed to field three over-age players.

Much will again be at stake for these two South American giants, not only the lure of going on to play for Olympic gold on Saturday, but intense regional pride.

Barcelona fought hard to prevent Messi playing in Beijing and wanted him back in Spain in time for the Champions League third qualifying round matches, but the all-action 21-year-old has illuminated the tournament as he did when Argentina won in Athens four years ago.

Messi scored a brilliantly-taken early goal and set up the second for Angel di Maria in a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time win over the Dutch in a Shanghai quarter-final on Sunday.

"He is one of the best football players in the world," said Argentina coach Sergio Batista.

Dutch coach Foppe De Haan has tipped Argentina to beat Brazil, largely on the Messi factor.

"I like Messi, even though he's on the other team," he said. "When he gets the ball he is unbelievable. Argentina are better than Brazil, they have a modern passing game."

Brazil also needed extra-time to put away belligerent Cameroon 2-0 in Shenyang last Sunday, needing goals from Rafael Sobis and Real Madrid's Marcelo to go through.

"Many people think the Olympics are not as important to us as the World Cup. But we're Brazil, and every time we take to the pitch, we do so to win. We want to claim our country's first gold medal in football," coach Carlos Dunga said.

Brazil's pragmatic playing style under Dunga has been criticised with the aficionades obsessive about 'Jogo bonito' - play beautiful - but Dunga insists he will not change his results-oriented approach against Argentina.

"We have to play against everything, we have to play to win, there's no other way," he said. "If the opposition play open football against Brazil, then we can play open and pretty football."

In the other semi-final, Nigeria play Belgium, who upset the more-fancied Italy 3-2 in the quarter-finals.

Belgium played most of the match a man down after defender Thomas Vermaelen was red-carded early but still got through.

Nigeria have inherited experience from six Olympics and one gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 where they beat Argentina, and coach Samson Siasia said another final appearance was possible.

"Every team who has come to the Olympics wants a gold medal, but it is not easy. There are many obstacles but, of course, having come this far we want the gold now," Siasia said.

"The semi-final is going to be very tough, but it is possible."