Brazil-Argentina friendly under threat from smog
If you think the haze here is bad enough to affect Brazil's friendly with Japan at the new National Stadium next Tuesday, think again.
The Selecao are set to face Argentina on Saturday in Beijing before flying to Singapore - but that match is under threat because of the Chinese city's severe smog problem.
Chinese authorities have been forced to issue an orange alert with pollution levels hitting 20 times the recommended maximum daily exposure limit set by the World Health Organisation.
As of 11.15pm Singapore time on Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Beijing was in the hazardous range with a rating of 368.
Compare that to central Singapore's moderate rating of 93 at around the same time with a corresponding Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) rating of 66.
Staying indoors
Brazil's team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar was quoted in the BBC as saying: "One advice that those responsible for pollution control give is that people should stay indoors and this is what we have done.
"Our athletes stay inside the hotel and only go out for training. Out of every 24 hours, they spend 22 inside the hotel."
While Argentina coach Gerardo Martino insisted that the air quality was "not a factor" for his team, his Brazil counterpart Dunga is preparing to reduce his players' exposure to the smog via substitutions.
Plans
The former Brazil midfielder said: "The pollution in Beijing is bad for both Brazil and Argentina so both teams have to do their best and deal with it, as we cannot change it ourselves.
"Our plan is to make plenty of substitutions so that the players will not be affected by it."
Regardless, it looks like the match being dubbed as Super Clasico is going to have some super problems.
Just look at these photos from the two teams' training sessions at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing:
Sources: BBC, AFP
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