Argentina vs Nigeria betting preview- Group B
Posted on | June 11, 2010 | No Comments
Game :- Argentina vs Nigeria ( Group B)
Competition :- 2010 FIFA World Cup
Venue :-Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Date :- Saturday, 12th June 2010
KO time:- 16.00 South African Time
Sixteen years after playing his last World Cup match against Nigeria, Diego Maradona will play his first World Cup match as Argentina manager against the Super Eagles as the two sides clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.
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The Argentines beat Nigeria 2-1 in the 1994 World Cup, and also got the better of the Super Eagles eight years later in Korea and Japan. The sole goal that day was scored by Gabriel Batistuta. Unfortunately for both sides, neither Argentina or Nigeria progressed past the group stages in 2002. There are only two Argentine survivors from that 2002 game- midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, and defender Walter Samuel.
The two sides have met more frequently at youth level internationally, and several stars from both teams know each other from their teenage days.
Diego Maradona could change his formation to accomodate three strikers upfront. That would mean playing a flat three at the back, as he has done in the past. Maradona has to choose three out of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito, Sergio Aguero and Martin Palermo- not an easy task for any coach.
Argentina form- last five games- most recent first- Argentina scorers in brackets
Argentina 5-0 Canada ( Maxi Rodriguez*2, Angel Di Maria, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero)
Argentina 4-0 Haiti ( Facundo Bertoglio*2, Martin Palermo, Sebastien Blanco)
Germany 0-1 Argentina ( Gonzalo Higuain)
Argentina 2-1 Jamaica ( Martin Palermo, Ignacio Canuto)
Argentina 3-2 Costa Rica ( Jose Sosa, Guillermo Burdisso, Franco Jara)
Nigeria will be without influential midfielder John Obi Mikel, who competed against Messi in the 2005 FIFA Youth Championships. The Super Eagles are coached by Sweden’s Lars Lagerback, who has already said that he has a ready plan in mind to contain the Argentines. Lagerback was coach of the Swedish team that progressed at the expense of the Albicelestes in 2002.
Nigeria form- most recent first- Nigeria scorers in brackets-
Nigeria 3-1 North Korea ( Victor Obinna, Yakubu, Obafemi Martins)
Nigeria 1-1 Colombia ( Haruna Lukman)
Nigeria 0-0 Saudi Arabia
Nigeria 0-0 Niger
Niger 2-0 Nigeria
Verdict:- It depends on how much Argentina will be allowed to play to their strengths. If Lagerback can cut off supply to the Argentine forwards, Nigeria may be in with a chance of an upset.
Argentina 2-1 Nigeria ( Higuain, Messi/ Yakubu)
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