Riquelme to captain Argentina against Brazil in London

LONDON, Sep 3 (Reuters) World Cup playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme will captain Argentina for the first time when they meet Brazil in a friendly international in London today.

Alfio Basile named Riquelme as captain yesterday when he announced his team for the first match of his second spell as Argentina's coach.

Teenage wonder kid Lionel Messi will partner new West Ham United signing Carlos Tevez in attack, while Hammers' other new recruit Javier Mascherano retains his World Cup holding midfield role.

Riquelme takes over the captaincy from World Cup left back Juan Pablo Sorin who was not called up for the South American ''classic'' at the Emirates stadium.

The team contains eight of the players who helped Argentina reach the World Cup quarter-finals in Germany though only three, and none of the back four, were first choice.

Team (4-3-1-2): Roberto Abbondanzieri; Pablo Zabaleta, Fabricio Coloccini, Gabriel Milito, Clemente Rodriguez; Luis Gonzalez, Javier Mascherano, Daniel Bilos; Juan Roman Riquelme; Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez.

REUTERS DH RK0920