BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Brazil players have made it clear they will not fear Argentinas Lionel Messi when the two sides meet for their high-profile World Cup qualifier on Thursday. Vapormax Herre Zalando .Messis return from injury prompted an exchange between the two sides on Tuesday after Argentina striker Lucas Pratto, who plays for Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, said the hosts were frightened of the five-time world player of the year.They know that Leo is very tough. They are a little scared, Pratto told Argentine newspaper Ole. Or maybe more than a little.His claim was flatly denied by Brazil captain Dani Alves, one of the Argentina stars closest friends and a former teammate at Barcelona.There is no such thing as being scared in football. There is respect for Messi and for Argentina. And they feel the same about our players, our team, the right back said after Tuesdays training session at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.Winger Douglas Costa also kept a sense of perspective, saying: (Brazil) has to do what it has been doing -- regardless of Argentina.However, Brazil defender Marquinhos added a note of caution about Messi, saying: We have to be perfect. With the tiniest mistake, he can dribble, he can score.Messi has missed Argentinas last three qualifying matches with an injured left knee, and the results showed with draws against Peru and Venezuela, and a 1-0 loss against Paraguay.He scored in a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in September in the only match hes played under Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza.Thursdays game takes place in the Mineirao stadium where Brazil was humiliated two years ago in a 7-1 loss to Germany in the World Cup semifinals.All 62,000 seats are expected to be taken as the hosts focus on containing Messi, rather than the ghosts of the 2014 World Cup debacle.He (Messi) is extremely intelligent and has a great finishing skill, so we have to do double marking on him whenever we can, Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto said. We have to close the gaps for all Argentina players, and we have to remove Messis passing angle whenever he has the ball.Alves said Brazil will have a tough time stopping near perfect Messi.His greatness comes from the fact he doesnt believe he is that great, it is what makes him different from the rest, the defender said.Alves added that he will wear the number 4 shirt in the game as a tribute to Brazil great Carlos Alberto Torres, who died in October.Argentina, World Cup runners-up two years ago against Germany, is five points behind group leader Brazil. It needs points on Thursday and next week in a difficult match against Colombia.Brazil leads qualifying with 21 points, followed by Uruguay with 20 and Ecuador and Colombia with 17. Chile and Argentina have 16 points each.The top four teams qualify automatically for the World Cup. The fifth-place team could advance through a playoff.Brazil has won four straight matches since coach Tite took over after the five-time World Cup champions fired Dunga. Vapormax Dame Tilbud Dk . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Vapormax Dame Dk . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. http://www.vapormaxdanmark.com/vapormax-...ko-danmark.html . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Adrian Peterson left U.S. Bank Stadium on crutches with a torn meniscus.Sam Bradford was seen shaking his left hand in pain for much of the game.The Minnesota Vikings took their lumps in a 17-14 victory Sunday night, and much of it had to do with a leaky offensive line that had a hard time protecting their top playmakers.Peterson managed just 19 yards on 12 carries and found little room to run before leaving in the third quarter with his injured right knee. Bradford played very well in his Vikings debut, but was sacked four times and was hit many more by an aggressive, blitzing Packers defense. The quarterback was left with a swollen and discolored non-throwing hand that required X-rays after the game.He took hits he shouldnt have taken, left guard Alex Boone said. He delivered the ball well. Just an overall great performance by him.Playing just two weeks after being acquired from Philadelphia in an emergency trade following the season-ending knee injury to Teddy Bridgewater, Bradford completed 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. He outplayed Packers star Aaron Rodgers and inspired teammates by hanging in against the constant pressure, taking hits time and again and still throwing bullets to his receivers, including emerging star Stefon Diggs.Hes as talented as they come and weve got to protect him a little bit better and not see him on the ground so often, tight end Kyle Rudolph said. But well get there.The Vikings revamped their offensive line in the offseason, signing Boone from the San Francisco 49ers and right tackle Andre Smith from the Cincinnati Bengals, and moving Brandon Fusco from left guard to right guard. They alsoo fired offensive line coach Jeff Davidson and hired former Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano, hoping he could bring some intensity and fire to a group that, in coach Mike Zimmers eyes, lacked both last season. Vapormax Sort Dame. Its early, and the new group could benefit from more games together to gain cohesion. But the results have been troubling through the first two weeks.Peterson, who led the NFL in rushing last season, has managed just 50 yards on 31 carries through the first two games. He has gained 2 yards or fewer on 20 of those 31 carries.We didnt play very good up front last night, Zimmer said on Monday. We didnt pass protect very well. We didnt do a very good job in the run block. They got after us up front, I thought. So weve got to do better.Zimmer wasnt ready to rule out Peterson the game Sunday against Carolina (1-1), but recovery times for even minor meniscus tears usually take at least a couple of weeks. But whether it is Peterson or backup running backs Matt Asiata or Jerick McKinnon taking handoffs from Bradford, the results will be the same if the holes arent there.You see hope in some plays, and in others, we just shoot ourselves in the foot and give up a sack or do something stupid, Boone said. Its just one of those things where were so close, but Im so sick of hearing that and so sick and tired of everybody talking about it, that we need to get it fixed, because were going to play a really tough team this week.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
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