Beijing - Argentina are out for revenge against arch-rivals Brazil in Tuesday's Olympic semi-final after a recent series of defeats against them, coach Sergio Batista said Monday. "I did not come here to claim revenge on winning streaks. But if we can, we will take revenge. We are here to represent the Argentine football team," Batista stressed.
Defending champion Argentina - the winner of two World Cups - and Brazil - who have won five editions of the ultimate football tournament - are set to clash Tuesday in Beijing's Workers Stadium.
In the four most recent games between the two South American football giants, Brazil has clearly won three (including the final of the 2007 Copa America) and drew the other.
Batista expressed his dislike for the way Brazil approached those games.
"Brazil played a mean game, so we will have to be intelligent. But it is clear we will go out to win," the coach noted.
"We are very confident that we can win. Brazil respects Argentina and Argentina respects Brazil. But we are emotionally very fit," Batista said in a press conference.
The coach confirmed that Brazil is set to play the game against Brazil with the same starting team that beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the quarter-finals, with the exception of keeper Oscar Ustari. Ustari suffered a serious injury in his left knee and will be out of play for at least six months.
Brazilian players too were in a confident mood ahead of the game.
Argentine football legend Diego Maradona is expected to watch the match from the stands, but that was not bothering Brazilian defender Hernanes.
"They will have Maradona in the VIP box, but we have Ronaldinho on the field," he said.
Argentina will have Leo Messi on the pitch and Hernanes gave nothing away when asked how Brazil were planning to deal with the Barcelona striker.
"I do not know whether I will be in charge of marking him. The coach (Carlos Dunga) will only decide tomorrow," Hernanes said in the last training session before the game.
Brazil trained at the Haidian stadium Monday, and all players agreed that they are really looking forward to playing defending champions Argentina en route to what could be their first ever Olympic football gold.
"This is the kind of game that we all like to play," Diego told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
The Werder Bremen midfielder has recovered from the slight injury he suffered against Cameroon and is fit to play.
