Of the two, Brazil have more to worry about, he believes, as the 2014 tournament hosts are still smarting from that tournament, which ended in disgrace as they were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.
Brazil has four points from three games. Brazil went behind to a first half goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi, and spent much of the game on the back foot.
Argentina were dominant in Buenos Aires but they could only find the net once and Lucas Lima’s second half equaliser reduced Martino’s side to their worst start in World Cup qualifying, with just two points from a possible nine.
The Napoli striker looked up and picked out Lavezzi with a superb low cross for the France-based star to ram past Alisson Becker for 1-0 on 34 minutes.
“We wanted to win this game against Argentina, but we got an important away point”.
“They are all important absences, mainly those of Lionel Messi and Kun (Aguero)”, he said on his arrival in Buenos Aires attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria. “It’s a shame”, said Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain told ESPN.
Dani Alves’ floated pass to the back post was met by substitute Douglas Costa, who crashed his header against the crossbar.
Lavezzi was too exhausted to track his run – Argentina’s gameplan had forced their wingers to work up and down the pitch – and Ramiro Funes Mori was not alive to the danger, allowing Lima space to volley home.
Geoff Cameron and Gyasi Zardes got on the scoresheet before the hour-mark and Altidore completed his brace as a dominant United States of America made the ideal start in Group C.
Rodriguez, returning after missing the opening games through injury last month, had a subdued match until he levelled midway through the second half from one of several chances set up by the risky Luis Muriel. Argentina, meanwhile, face a tougher task as they seek to get their campaign on track away to Colombia in the sweltering heat of Barranquilla. That leaves both teams well off the pace in South America so far and needing to start piling up wins soon before the pressure really starts to mount.