Argentina vs Brazil: Picking Argentina's Starting XI

La Albiceleste has their work cut out for them. The majority of their strong headliners are out for the start of the Champions League, which means no Sergio Agüero, no Di María, no Higuaín and no Messi. The squad that led a ninth-ranked Argentina to a sound victory 3-1 in their last friendly over Nigeria in Dhaka—where Higuaín netted two goals, Di María one and Messi provided a few great set-ups—won't be available against Brazil.

Now, facing a Brazilian squad that sports experience (Kléber, Ronaldinho) and promising youth (Neymar), Argentina will rely on Primera División stars, many who are well into their careers without ever being capped for their team, to put up a fight against their longtime South American rivals.

In place of the usual Messi-Higuaín strikeforce, Boca Juniors' assertive, powerful second striker Pablo Mouche—who gave a great performance in this year's Argentine-league opening tournament—and experienced former Wigan Athletic striker Mauro Boselli will likely step in.

The most experienced player the AFA has at their disposal is 36-year-old Estudiantes star Juan Sebastian Verón, with 75 caps under his belt and nine international goals in his first appearance for Argentina since the 2010 World Cup.

Next in line with the most previous caps is defender Clemente Rodríguez, a small but mighty presence on the pitch who has been capped 13 times for Argentina and was instrumental in their run in the 2010 World Cup; but expect the more domestic-play-experienced German Ré to go on in his stead.

Both of Argentina's goalkeepers on this squad have been capped for the first time, but expect Vélez Sársfield's Marcelo Barovero, who led his team to two recent first-place finishes in the league's closing tournament, to make the start and be a stronghold against Brazil's tough offense. 

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Marcelo Barovero (Vélez Sársfield), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).

Defenders: Sebastian Dominguez (Vélez Sársfield), Emiliano Papa (Vélez Sársfield), Christian Cellay (Estudiantes), Leandro Desabato (Estudiantes), Ivan Pillud (Racing Club), Clemente Rodriguez (Boca Juniors), Jonathan Bottinelli (San Lorenzo), Lisandro Lopez (Arsenal de Sarandí).

Midfielders: Augusto Fernandez (Vélez Sársfield), Hector Canteros (Vélez Sársfield), Rodrigo Brana (Estudiantes), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Lucas Castro (Racing Club), Agustin Pelletieri (Racing Club), Cristian Chavez (Boca Juniors), Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors), Diego Valeri (Lanus).

Forwards: Juan Manuel Martinez (Velez Sarsfield), Maruo Boselli (Estudiantes), Gaston Fernandez (Estudiantes), Pablo Mouche (Boca Juniors), Emanuel Gigliotti (San Lorenzo).

Projected Starting XI (4-4-2): Barovero; Papa, Ré, Pillud, Domínguez; Verón, Fernández, Zapata, Villar; Boselli, Mouche. 

Subs: Rodríguez, Cellay, Desábato, Canteros, Chávez, J.M Martinez