Argentines ready for Brazil

Batista, who was installed as full time successor to Diego Maradona earlier this month, said his side should not be afraid to take the game to the five-time world champions in Doha.

“If I were afraid of Brazil I’d have stayed at home,” Batista said.

“I hold them in respect but I do not fear them. They are our traditional rivals and we respect each other.”

Batista has overseen wins in friendlies over Ireland and world champions Spain in his short stint in charge of Argentina, but said that performances, not results, were the priority as his side prepare for the 2011 Copa America.

“I don’t think the result will affect my career much. I was confirmed in my post two weeks ago and our target is the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but we still want to put one over our great rivals,” Batista said.

“But this is a process which is just beginning and the result is not the priority.”

Argentina have lost four of their past five meetings against Brazil and have not beaten their South American rivals in five years.

“What has happened has happened. Like the whole of Argentina I don’t like to lose to Brazil – people want us to beat Brazil,” Batista said.

“I hope we get a good result but the main thing is to concentrate on the future.”