Flamboyant Uruguay coach Juan Ramon Carrasco, who has promised to ditch the country's dour defensive traditions, refused to be overawed by the prospect of facing the five-times world champions on their own turf.

"Individually, Brazil are world champions, but in the collective aspect, we have a lot of faith in ourselves," said Carrasco, who last month irritated the Brazilians by suggesting that he was a better coach than his counterpart Carlos Alberto Parreira.

Uruguay have picked up six points in their three qualifiers so far and are third in the single South American group, although their defeat was an by an emphatic 4-1 against Paraguay.

Brazil, second behind Argentina on goal difference, have seven points from three games and are still unbeaten, but lost their 100 percent record in their 1-1 draw away to Peru on Sunday.

Brazil's population is around 60 times bigger than Uruguay's but the 'Charruas' have often taken pleasure in making life difficult for their neighbours.

Their most famous upset was in 1950 when an apparently invincible Brazilian team lost 2-1 in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium in the decisive match of that year's World Cup.

Uruguay, who won the World Cup for the second and last time on that occasion, have since lost their position as a power in the game.

But they are still a thorn in Brazil's side and won their last meeting, in a World Cup qualifier two years ago, by a single goal in Montevideo.

Inter Milan's attacking midfielder Alvaro Recoba, whose left foot is one of Uruguay's most potent weapons, is still doubtful because of a hamstring strain.

Parreira, who has been under fire for being too predictable, said he was finally considering altering his team.

"I'm thinking of making one or two changes," he said. "At home we have to get the three points."

Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos and Barcelona's Ronaldinho will again be unavailable because of injury.

While Brazil didn't lose against Peru on Sunday, drawing was just as bad for most fans.

As Brazilians returned to work Monday, the World champion's lackluster play and criticism of coach Parreira were the topics of the day.

``Playing like that, the team didn't even deserve the tie,'' complained doorman Reginaldo Barbosa as he swept the sidewalk in front of a Copacabana apartment building.

Griping about the national team is nothing new, and even a workmanlike win is cause for complaint here.

But the draw against tiny Peru rankled even more, because it meant Brazil had to concede first place to archrivals Argentina.

``Tie with the taste of loss,'' read the headline on the Rio news daily Extra.

The Rio sports daily Lance chose to emphasize that Parreira was happy with the draw.

``Parreira Likes It'' read the Lance headline.

Fans and sports writers alike cheered Rivaldo for scoring Brazil's only goal, and ripped Parreira for maintaining a defensive play-it-safe scheme on the field.

Brazilians hunkered down for a repeat of the 1994 World Cup campaign, where they complained about the coach right up until the moment the team won the championship.

Parreira is often criticized for deploying a dull win-at-all-costs style of soccer that fans say lacks the art and samba for which Brazilian soccer is famous.

Argentina travel to the steamy Caribbean port of Barranquilla where they face a Colombian side still looking for their first points and reeling from a humiliating home defeat against outsiders Venezuela on Saturday.

Colombia are expecting beleagured coach Francisco Maturana to resign after Wednesday's match regardless of the outcome.

The players and directors imposed a media silence on Sunday as speculation mounted about the future of the 54-year-old coach, who led the country to the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.

"We just need to have a bit of peace and quiet," said Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba, who returns to the side after missing the Venezuela game through suspension.

Maturana has not commented on his future but raised eyebrows on Saturday when he said the team would succeed "with or without me."

Argentina beat Bolivia 3-0 on Saturday and are still trying to win back the enthusiasm of the public following their shock first-round exit at last year's World Cup.

Chelsea midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is again available after suspension and expected to regain his place at the expense of Matias Almeyda.

Brazil and Argentina are expected to take two of the four South American places at the World Cup but the other two -- plus a play-off for a further place -- are seen as open to any of the other eight teams.

The week's other games have Ecuador (three points) hosting Peru (four) in Quito on Wednesday while on Tuesday Chile (4) are at home to Paraguay (6) and Venezuela (3) take on Bolivia (3) in Maracaibo.

Venezuela, the only South American team never to have played at a World Cup, have an excellent chance to build on Saturday's surprise win in Colombia as they attempt to break their duck.