Argentina vs. Brazil: Canarinho Will Make Up for Hiccup Against Mexico with Win

It looked unbeatable against the USA last week, and just a few days later, it looked utterly beatable versus Mexico. 

With only a few matches left to prep for what hopes to be a deep Olympic run, Brazil needs to get back on its feet, and there's no better time than against Argentina on Saturday at the Meadowlands.

It won't be easy. Brazil, still riding high from its resounding 4-1 defeat of the US last week, dropped a shocking 2-0 matchup to Mexico on Sunday and is now questioning its own Olympic merit. Perhaps the loss was a good thing—maybe it woke up a team that thought it was a lot better than it is.

After Brazil's loss to Mexico, Brazilian star Pele told Postnoon.com: 

"

I think it’s good this [defeat] happened as it does away with the feeling that this is a marvelous team, that it’s doing fine. It is a good team, with good players but not yet ready to overcome difficulties.  

"

Maybe, as Pele says, Brazil can use this loss to Mexico to earn the motivation it needs to destroy Argentina on Saturday, and then it can continue to carry that momentum into London 2012.

In particular, Pele called out budding superstar Neymar, who Pele said cannot yet succeed against a European or South American defender. Neymar may have looked excellent against the US when he tallied a goal and two assists, but he'll have to look that good in the rest of the summer's international friendlies—and that starts on Saturday with Argentina. 

And it won't be easy. Argentina hasn't lost since Oct. 11 in a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela, and it is coming off a decisive 4-0 win over Ecuador. Currently, it has a CONMEBOL-leading 10 points in World Cup qualifying. 

Brazil may have won the World Cup five times and they may have destroyed the US last week, but, as US coach Jurgen Klinsmann astutely pointed out, this Brazil team is very beatable. Taking down Argentina is the first step toward proving they can rebound without letting one bad loss get into their heads. 

A win over the US in an international friendly isn't an Olympic gold, nor is a win over Argentina or Sweden or even a loss to Mexico. 

But better to experience those losses now and figure out how to rebound—preferably now, against Argentina—than to do it in London, when it will be too late.