After surviving a big scare in the previous round Argentina’s next assignment in the World Cup is a Round of 16 clash with Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday
Argentina
Argentina came up against Cape Verde in the Round of 32 in Miami, they were overwhelming favourites with the bookmakers but extra time was needed to settle the match with Argentina coming out on top 3-2. Lionel Messi scored his seventh goal of the tournament to give Argentina a 1-0 lead in the first half but Cape Verde squared things up just before the hour mark and it stayed that way for the remainder of regulation time. Lisandro Martinez then put Argentina 2-1 in front but Cape Verde came back immediately to make it 2-2. An own goal then made it 3-2 to the South Americans and that’s the way it finished.
Argentina topped Group J with more than a degree of comfort. They won all 3 matches to finish 5 points clear of Austria and Algeria who also made it through whilst Jordan failed to pick up a point.
They were already assured of topping the group ahead of their third match which came against Jordan in Dallas and they won the game 3-1 with Giovani lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez (penalty) and Messi the scorers.
In their second outing a 2-0 win over Austria came with 2 more goals from Lionel Messi and they came through their first task with a comfortable 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City with a Lionel Messi hat trick.
Egypt:
Egypt’s Round of 32 clash with Australia in Dallas went all the way to spot kicks. Emam Ashour gave them an early lead but the Socceroo’s were level early in the second half when Mohamed Hany scored his second own goal of the tournament. There was no further scoring and the Pharaohs won the shoot out 4-2.
Egypt were in Group G and they finished as runners up to Belgium on goal difference after both sides finished with 1 and 2 draws. Iran were third with 3 points and extremely unlucky to be eliminated and New Zealand were bottom of the quartet with 1 point.
Egypt’s final group match aw them take on Iran in Seattle. A win would have seen them top the group and Mahmoud Saber gave them an early lead. Iran missed a penalty but soon equalized in a frantic start and it stayed 1-1 until the closing stages when Iran had a goal controversially ruled out by VAR and also hit the woodwork.
Egypt had moved to the top of the group with a 3-1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver in their second group match. They were a goal down on 15 minutes and it stayed that way until Mostafa Zico equalized just before the hour mark. Mo Salah then made it 2-1 and Trezeguet added the third.
Egypt’s opening match against Belgium in Seattle finished in a 1-1 draw. They took the lead through Emam Ashour on 20 minutes and midway through the second half Mohamed Hany’s own goal squared things up.
The Betting (Regulation time unless stated otherwise)
Argentina are priced at around 4/10 to win the game with the draw available at 36/10 and Egypt can be backed at around 15/2
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 19/20 and its 13/10 for both teams to score
Sportingbet price boosts include Messi and Salah both to register over 1.5 shots on target at 6/1 and Messi to score first at 23/10.
Bet Builder price boosts are also available.
The Verdict:
Although they conceded against Jordan in their final group game and then against Cape Verde in the first knockout round I’m thinking Argentina can get back to keeping a clean sheet and I’m with them to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0.
Bets: Multi score, Argentina to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 at 13/10 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change