Duty for the ‘Albiceleste’!
Argentina take on Saudi Arabia in an unequal clash on matchday one in Group C of the 2022 World Cup. While the ‘Albiceleste’ are favourites to win the title in their 13th consecutive appearance at a finals, just making it through the group stage would be a major achievement for their opponents.
The South Americans have also reached the finals an impressive four times since 1978 – the DFB team alone tops that number with five finals appearances. For the match in Lusail between Argentina and Saudi Arabia, the tip includes a victory for the favourites with at least a three-goal difference.
Argentina – Statistics & current form
The two-time World Champions (1978 & 1986) have only failed to make it past the group stage once in their last 13 World Cup appearances (2002). Coach Lionel Scaloni’s team is also expected to reach the round of 16 at this World Cup.
Once again, the squad is very well-stocked. Lionel Messi in particular will be extremely motivated.
Although “La Pulga” won the Copa America last year for the first time in his career, his extraordinary career would of course be crowned with a World Cup win.
So far, the PSG player has not been granted this sense of achievement, despite four previous appearances.
The upcoming World Cup is therefore his last chance to add winning a World Cup to his already impressive CV with numerous triumphs at club level and personal awards such as winning the Ballon d’Or seven times.
Argentina record failures on the offensive
However, the Argentines will be shorthanded. With Giovani Lo Celso and Paulo Dybala, two powerful players are missing due to injury.
In addition to Messi, Lautaro Martinez is now even more important in the forward play. Like Messi, the Inter Milan striker scored seven goals during the World Cup qualifiers – the best tally in the Argentine team in each case.
The 25-year-old also looks back on another successful season with the “Nerazzurri” in Serie A with seven goals in 15 league games. Once again, as in the past three seasons with Inter, he looks set for a double-digit goal haul at the end of the season.
Will Martinez strike?
In view of the aforementioned absences and his stable form, the betting odds on a goal by Martinez in the clash between Argentina and Saudi Arabia are also worth a recommendation.
This is also supported by the fact that Martinez did not play in the test match against the United Arab Emirates last week (5-0) and is particularly well rested.
Predicted line-up of Argentina:
Martinez – Otamendi – Foyth – Acuna – de Paul – Parades – Fernandez – Mac Allister – Messi – di Maria – Martinez
Last matches played by Argentina:
Friendly matches
16/11/2022 – United Arab Emirates 0 – 5 Argentina
28/09/2022 – Argentina 3 – 0 Jamaica
24/09/2022 – Argentina 3 – 0 Honduras
06/06/2022 – Argentina 5 – 0 Estonia
Finalissima
02/06/2022 – Italy 0 – 3 Argentina
Saudi Arabia – Statistics & current form
Saudi Arabia coach Hervé Renard already took part in the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a coach. At the time, he was still in charge of Morocco’s national team. With that team, he was eliminated after the group stage with a draw and two defeats.
Now there are signs of a similar fate with the “Green Falcons”. No players with international class can be found in the squad. The majority of the players play for al-Hilal in the Saudi Professional League.
The club is the reigning champion of the country and the record holder in the league with 18 titles.
Offensive has failed in World Cup series
The yield so far in the five finals that have been played also gives little hope. The Saudi Arabian national football team has failed to score in nine of its 16 World Cup matches.
In turn, 36 per cent of their own goals came only from the penalty spot – the highest proportion of any team at the 2022 World Cup.
Given that they are now also up against a strong defence, the prediction of a zero victory for the South Americans in the showdown between Argentina and Saudi Arabia is also worth considering.
Saudi Arabia have never won their opener
The outsiders have also won just three of their 16 World Cup matches to date (3-2-11) and have never won their first match at a World Cup. Instead, Saudi Arabia have five defeats and a 2-2 draw with Tunisia in 2006.
They also lost their dress rehearsal in the shape of a test match against Croatia last Wednesday, although respectably, as the defeat to the runners-up was a narrow 1-0.
Predicted Saudi Arabia line-up:
Al-Owais – Al Amri – Al Boleahi – Abdulhamid – Al-Shahrani – Al Malki – Kanno – Al Buraikan – Al-Faraj – Al-Dawsari – Al Shehri
Last matches played by Saudi Arabia:
Friendly matches
16/11/2022 – Saudi Arabia 0 – 1 Croatia
10/11/2022 – Panama 1 – 1 Saudi Arabia
06/11/2022 – Saudi Arabia 1 – 0 Iceland
30/10/2022 – Saudi Arabia 0 – 0 Honduras
26/10/2022 – Saudi Arabia 1 – 1 Albania
Argentina – Saudi Arabia Direct comparison / H2H balance
Argentina and Saudi Arabia are facing each other for the first time in a World Cup. Furthermore, four duels between the countries can be discovered to date and the South Americans have not lost any of these matches (2-2-0). The last direct duel was a friendly in 2012 and ended goalless.
Argentina – Saudi Arabia Tip
Argentina are ranked third in the FIFA World Ranking and are 48 ranks higher than their upcoming opponents.
Furthermore, the Argentines have not lost in more than three years and won their most recent test match last Wednesday against the United Arab Emirates, a team comparable to their upcoming opponents, by a clear 5-0 margin.
For the clash between Argentina and Saudi Arabia, the forecast is therefore for the favourites to win by at least three goals.
While the South Americans are missing two key players in their attack, this deficit should not be apparent yet given the clear class difference in this encounter.
The rest of the South American squad is nevertheless vastly superior to Saudi Arabia, which is why it looks like the “Albiceleste” will have a successful start to the World Cup.
