Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay all face injury issues

SAO PAULO (AP):

Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are all facing injury problems ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

For Brazil, forward Philippe Coutinho is out. Argentina will be missing striker Paulo Dybala and Uruguay will have to do without midfielder Federico Valverde.

NEYMAR’S INJURY

Brazil have the added problem of missing Neymar for the team’s match against Venezuela tomorrow because of a groin injury but he could return against Uruguay on Tuesday.

Brazil and Argentina lead the 10-team qualifying group with six points from two matches, followed by Colombia and Paraguay with four points each. Uruguay have three points.

Argentina will host Paraguay today and then travel to Peru for a match on Tuesday. The Uruguayans play at Colombia tomorrow and then face Brazil.

In other matches, Bolivia play Ecuador today and then face Paraguay on Tuesday. Chile host Peru tomorrow and then go to Venezuela for a match on Tuesday.

The top four teams in the group will automatically qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The fifth-place team will reach a playoff against a team from another continent.