Additionally, no away fans will be making the trip south

BELO HORIZONTE www.thetopsoccer.com/tottenham-hotspur , Brazil (AP) — Brazil coach Tite can’t sleep before his team’s Copa América semifinal clash with archrivals Argentina, but his adversary Lionel Scaloni sounded somewhat relaxed for their meeting on Tuesday at the Mineirão Stadium.Either the Brazilian leading the Seleção for three years, or the Argentine interim that learns as he goes since August, will be at Sunday’s final at the Maracanã Stadium.For Brazil, playing without Neymar, a title can mean some stability after the frustration in the World Cup in Russia. Argentina hopes rebuild its team at the same time it takes a shot at winning its first trophy in 26 years, which would also be the first for superstar Lionel Messi with his national team.Tite has already played against Argentina three times, with two wins and one loss. But that experience didn’t calm him down before the “superclásico.”“I told you I am feeling a lot of anticipation, I couldn’t sleep and I won’t sleep again (tonight),” Brazil’s coach said in a media conference on Monday. “I woke up at 3:15 a.m., started thinking about the match. I have the habit of taking notes, so I did it. That is the reality of coaches, me, Scaloni.”“I will not fake it, do one thing here and then say something different to the athletes Cheap Argentina Soccer Jerseys ,” he added. “Of course I have expectations, I am only human.”Tite’s first match against Argentina was also the latest encounter between the two in Belo Horizonte. In November 2016, the hosts won 3-0 in World Cup qualifiers in Brazil’s first match at the Mineirão since the 7-1 hammering by the Germans in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.“That win (against Argentina) doesn’t give us credit now and that defeat (against Germany) we had here doesn’t affect. What matters is the moment,” Tite said. “But the anticipation I felt then is the same I feel now.”The troubles of Tite’s sleep go beyond Argentina. Brazil’s coach has been under criticism for his conservative choices and also for poor performances during Copa América, except for a 5-0 win against Peru. Lifting the trophy in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday could make his path to the Qatar World Cup in 2022 a little less uncertain.Scaloni, on the other hand, sounded more relaxed than usual. Asked if he is sleeping as little as Tite, he said: “I do that already, it is not because of our rival.”Argentina’s coach also made fun of reporters who hinted Sergio Agüero could leave the team to open way for a player with more defensive concerns.“Agüero will play. I said it because I read I was in doubt, let me leave that clear,” Scaloni said. “The rest you will know tomorrow. Not even Messi is confirmed,” Scaloni jokingly said.The Argentinian coach recognized Brazil is the favorite to win, but believes Tite’s lack of sleep comes from the different stakes for the hosts.“For him it is his home, his people, there are different circumstances. For us it could grant us access to the final Soccer Jerseys Wholesale ,” Scaloni said. “If this semifinal were against another team it would be the same. I don’t believe beating Brazil is a prize.”Argentina started Copa América with a 2-0 defeat against Colombia, almost crashed out in the 1-1 draw with Paraguay, but improved in two 2-0 wins against Qatar and Venezuela. Scaloni said fans should expect another good performance against Brazil.“Argentina fans can be calm, they will feel identification with our team against a tough rival. We will play the match we have to play for people to be proud,” he added. You can’t escape a creeping feeling of positivity in Rome right now.The turn of the year has refreshed the flagging optimism of some fans, the sun has begun to emerge from hibernation and the return of Serie A is just around the corner.Additionally, Lazio’s 4-1 win over Novara last weekend secured the Roman club a Coppa Italia quarter-final against Inter and saw the likes of Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic show further hints that they are finally returning to their best form.The transfer market has opened and sporting director Igli Tare has started to deliver on his vow to trim the squad down to size, finding loan moves for three promising youngsters in need of game time as Joseph Minala returned to Salernitana and Venezia brought in both Alessandro Rossi and Cristiano Lombardi.Everything is motoring along nicely. However, a trip to perennial bogey team Napoli on Sunday night threatens to dampen the mood, with Lazio hoping to end a long and miserable record of suffering against the Vesuviani.We’ve been here before, after all. Back in August, anticipation was high ahead of the season opener against Napoli after an encouraging transfer campaign and pre-season for Lazio.Ciro Immobile’s superb opening goal in that game – which was recently named as the Aquile’s goal of the year for 2018 – gave them the perfect start before the visitors were sparked to life and fought back to win 2-1.The defeat was the first of two that opened a tough start to the season, the second coming against defending champions Juventus.Now Lazio are back where they started and once again doubts are being raised about their ability to win big games in Serie A – doubts that have only snowballed since those early days of the campaign.Defeats to Roma and Inter and a draw with Milan have come since, but Napoli remain the biggest curse of all for Lazio among the top six.Sunday’s match will see Simone Inzaghi reach a new landmark as Lazio coach as he oversees his 132nd match at the helm of the Biancocelesti, overtaking Edy Reja to reach number six in the all-time list.But if his record is anything to go by Cheap Australia Soccer Shirts , it could be a day to forget. Since taking the reins in Rome, Inzaghi has struggled to get the better of the Azzurri, drawing his first encounter before losing all four subsequent meetings. Three of those were by three-goal margins.It gets worse. In their last 15 clashes, Lazio have picked up just two wins, losing 10 and drawing three.The record is so appallingly bad that the sporadic victories have stuck in the memory, earning a special golden haze thanks to their rarity.The 4-2 win in Naples on the final day of the 2014/15 season was a huge moment, securing third place and a Champions League play-off spot for Stefano Pioli’s side, while video footage of Stefano Mauri’s spectacular overhead kick in the 3-1 victory in Rome back in April 2012 is regularly dug out from the archives.The challenge awaiting Lazio this weekend is no less significant than those that have come before. Under Carlo Ancelotti, Napoli have solidified their status as Italy’s second-best team and they have not lost a match at the San Paolo since March last year.Additionally, no away fans will be making the trip south after authorities took the decision to close the visiting end amid fears of clashes in the wake of the Boxing Day violence at San Siro when Napoli faced Inter.Lazio can’t afford a repeat of the start of the season, when they failed to pick up a single point in their games against Napoli and Juventus.Inzaghi’s side are currently where they want to be, in fourth place, but with six teams within six points of them the Biancocelesti could tumble down the standings if they lose both games.Inzaghi has done a remarkable job with Lazio already, but marking this landmark appearance on the Aquile bench with a win would rank among his biggest results. There will be little room for error.