World Cup 2018 Offer a Second Chance to Argentina

Nigeria vs Argentina

I was always brought up to believe everyone should get a second chance and, fortunately for one of the international giants of the game, World Cup 2018 also allows for that.

SBOBET odds on Argentina progressing seemed so stacked against them that many World Cup 2018 predictions were being turned on their head.

Yet here we are, in the final week of the group stages, and Jorge Sampaoli and his men have been given a lifeline. And they are determined to take it.

Talking Points

As World Cup 2018 results go, it was the shock of the tournament so far.

Not the fact that Argentina, defeated finalists at the 2014 tournament, were defeated by a good Croatia side, but the fact they were comprehensively beaten and seemed in disarray.

Yet due to other results in Group D, the South Americans now have another crack at qualifying for the knockout stages. Even their most famous son wants to make sure there are no slip-ups.

Whether Diego Armando Maradona is granted his wish to speak to the class of 2018 remains to be seen, but he has requested to talk to players of a nation where there appears to be potential strains in certain relationships within the camp.

Perhaps that is no surprise given the massive pressure Sampaoli is under back home.

Changes are almost certainly guaranteed to a side which, against Croatia, looked a poor relation of some of its predecessors, particularly in defence and midfield where the likes of Javier Mascherano seemed well past his prime. A number of defenders also seemed to lack international class expected of the two-time world champions.

The permutations are simple: fail to beat Nigeria and Argentina are out of the World Cup.

After being held by underdogs Iceland and then the Croatia carnage, surely Lionel Messi and Co will grab with both hands (and feet) the reprieve they’ve been given to stay in the tournament?

If they do not take it, fans will make the arrival back home very unpleasant so it’s doubly in their interests.

No one expected La Albiceleste to be to the brink of elimination, and they may not have been helped with suggestions that Sampaoli’s plans for this must-win game have been seen elsewhere.

Standing in their way is the country which has actually restored their hopes of a way back into the competition.

Nigeria are bidding to win successive World Cup games for the first time since 1998 and know three points will also guarantee them a place in the knockout stages for the fourth time – regardless of the outcome of the other group match between already-qualified Croatia and Iceland.

The decisive game in St Petersburg will also see Nigeria’s newfound hero take to the field.

Step forward Ahmed Musa, who is now his country’s all-time top scorer in World Cup history with four goals.

Two fine individual strikes from the Leicester City man means he will start against Argentina after initially beginning this tournament on the bench.

The Super Eagles are soaring, and the question now is whether they can take away a gift for which they have given Argentina a sniff of the wrapping.

History

Four of the eight games between Nigeria and Argentina have come at World Cup finals with Argentina winning all four matches, most recently in the 2014 tournament.

On that occasion, Musa scored twice but so did Messi, along with soon-to-be Man Utd signing Marcus Rojo, in a 3-2 Argentina success.

They only met last November when Argentina led 2-0 before Nigeria staged a super comeback to win 4-2 in Krasnodar in southern Russia – unbeknown to both nations, a warm-up for this encounter.

Argentina are currently enduring their longest winless run in World Cup finals history, drawing two and losing two of their last four.

What are the odds?

Argentina are clearer favourites than the form book would probably expect. They are priced 1X2 @ 1.57 compared to Nigeria @ 5.40 with the draw priced @ 4.10.

The same odds are available for the Super Eagles in the First Half 1X2 where the draw will pay out at odds of 2.28 with Argentina @ 2.11.

Asian Handicap odds offer Argentina -1.00 @ 2.01 with Nigeria + 0.75 @ 2.25.

There are often goals when these two meet which is why over 2.75 goals is offered @ 2.06 and 4-6 goals @ 3.35.

If Nigeria do join Croatia in the last 16, how about a Group D dual forecast bet of Croatia/Nigeria @ 2.62?

If Messi is to shine at this World Cup, he better get going. He is priced @ 40.00 to be the top scorer in the competition.

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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

 

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