MONTEVIDEO — Lionel Messi and Neymar will be absent as Brazil and Argentina set out on the road to Russia — and redemption — when South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup kick off Thursday. Injured Messi and suspended Neymar are just two of a galaxy of stars who will be missing as the long journey to Russia 2018 begins. Uruguay will be without Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani while Colombia's James Rodriguez is also injured. Brazil and Argentina, the two superpowers of South American football, launch their respective qualifying campaigns still smarting from disappointing performances in the Copa America, which saw Chile lift the title on home soil. Brazil's Copa America ended in defeat to Paraguay in the quarterfinals, a loss that deepened the sense of gloom surrounding the Selecao, still bearing the scars of their humiliating World Cup exit to Germany in 2014. Argentina's campaign meanwhile ended in a penalty shoot-out against Chile in the final, shattering Messi and the Albiceleste's hopes of winning a first major tournament since 1993. Those twin setbacks provide the sobering backdrop to Thursday's opening round of fixtures, where Brazil faces a daunting trip to Santiago to face Chile while Argentina meets Ecuador in Buenos Aires. But while Copa America form suggests Chile is favorite, Brazil heads into its game with history squarely in its corner. Brazil has suffered one solitary defeat to Chile during World Cup qualifiers, a 3-0 loss during the campaign to reach the 2002 tournament. In 14 meetings since that defeat, Brazil has won 12, drawn two, lost none. Brazil's most recent win over the Chileans came in March, a 1-0 friendly victory in London which followed last year's World Cup second round win. One critical factor for Brazil could be the absence of suspended captain Neymar, who was banned after being sent off in a stormy Copa America battle with Colombia in June. Yet Brazil has showed no sign of tension during the build-up, holding relaxed open training sessions before large crowds of journalists and fans. Chile by contrast has drawn a veil over its preparations, with coach Jorge Sampaoli restricting press access to training to just 15 minutes each day at the team's Juan Pinto Duran complex. Argentina meanwhile will get a taste of life without their superstar captain Messi when it takes on Ecuador in Buenos Aires. Messi, who was scapegoated in some quarters for another Argentinian tournament failure in the Copa America, is sidelined for the game after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Barcelona last month. In other matches Thursday, Uruguay will have to grapple with the absence of Suarez and Cavani as it faces a daunting trip to the thin air of La Paz to face Bolivia. Colombia, meanwhile, which faces Uruguay in its second match next week, meets Peru in the port city of Barranquilla without Real Madrid star James Rodriguez, meaning the attacking burden is likely to fall on out-of-form Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao. US blanks Panama 4-0 Kiesewetter sparked the offense with a goal and an assist in the second half, and the United States beat Panama 4-0 in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying on a rainy Tuesday. Already through to the semifinal round, the Americans didn't have much to play for and rested several of their starters. In another match, Arichel Hernandez Mora scored twice, including in the 87th minute, and Cuba tied Canada 2-2. — Agencies
