Argentina are facing an early World Cup exit unless they beat Nigeria in their final group game. A disastrous 3-0 loss to Croatia leaves the 2014 finalists on the brink but their first win of the 2018 tournament would see them reach the knockout stages. Iceland can muddy the waters with a victory over Croatia.
OVERVIEW
- In spite of a lamentable crusade up until this point, there is still seek after winless Argentina. Changes allowing, there is a decent shot that three focuses versus Nigeria will send them through – and the Argentines have never finished a first round gathering stage at a World Cup without no less than one triumph.
- The main time they returned home without a win arrived in an unadulterated thump out organization in 1934; a squad including just beginners spent over multi month adrift just to lose 3-2 to Sweden in the first round and bow out. Should the present group be disposed of in St Petersburg, there would be a lot of Argentina fans upbeat to see the group – and under-flame mentor Jorge Sampaoli – put on the ease back vessel back to Buenos Aires.
- Not at all like Argentina, Nigeria’s change to a back three paid off in their last amusement, a 2-0 win versus Iceland, and another triumph would send them through.
HEAD -TO -HEAD
- In each of the last four World Cups Nigeria have qualified for (2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018) they have been drawn in the same group as Argentina. They were also in the same group in 1994.
- The Super Eagles have lost all four of their previous World Cup games against Argentina, with all of those defeats by single-goal margins (1-0 in 2002 and 2010, 2-1 in 1994, 3-2 in 2014).
- The Nigerians lost a group game to Paraguay at the 1998 tournament, so have been defeated in all five of their World Cup matches versus South American opposition.
Nigeria
- Nigeria’s six World Cup wins have all come against European sides – they have never beaten opposition from another continent.
- The only previous time the Super Eagles won back-to-back World Cup games was in 1998, when they defeated Spain and Bulgaria in their first two matches.
- Victory would ensure Nigeria reach the knock-out stage for a second successive World Cup, and for the fourth time in six appearances overall.
- Ahmed Musa is Nigeria’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup with four goals – two against Iceland at this tournament, and two versus Argentina in 2014.
Argentina
- The only previous time Argentina have failed to win a game at a World Cup was in 1934, when the tournament was a straight knock-out. They selected an inexperienced, amateur squad, and lost 3-2 to Sweden in the first round.
- They have never completed a first round group stage at a World Cup without at least one win.
- The Argentines are enduring their longest winless run in World Cup history (D2, L2), although that four-match streak includes the 2014 semi-final against the Dutch, which they won on penalties.
- They last lost back-to-back World Cup games in 1994 (against Bulgaria and Romania). They have never lost consecutive games in the opening group stage.
- Lionel Messi has failed to score with his last 22 shots in matches at World Cup finals.
- But over the last two years he has scored 14 goals in 18 games for Argentina.
PREDICTIONS
- Both teams have their World Cup hopes on the line in this game. The previous two games should serve as a wake-up call to Argentina who are widely expected to take the victory.
- Nigeria’s fate is under their own control, and they may feel they only need a point to progress.They are at their best if they go on the attack, but they seem unwilling to do so.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Nigeria’s probable line-up against Argentina
Argentina’s probable line-up against Nigeria
SQUADS
- Argentina Probable team (4-3-3): Armani – Salvio, Mercado, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Benega, Mascherano, Enzo Perez – Messi, Higuain, Di Maria
- German coach Rohr needs his team to use the momentum of their win over Iceland and secure a place in the next round.
- Nigeria Probable team (3-5-2): Uzoho – Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo – Moses, Ndidi, Mikel, Etebo, Idowu – Kelechi, Musa