Argentina – Iceland World Cup Prediction
In the first World Cup match in the history of the smallest country ever to take part in a world championship, Iceland will soon face a high-carat. Against Argentina, the Vikings, who caused a sensation at the EURO 2016 with the quarter-finals, of course, the clear outsider in the Moscow Spartak Stadium. Of course, the Albiceleste should not make the mistake of underestimating the strong unit from Iceland, so as not to experience a nasty surprise and to avoid unnecessary pressure in the following, not easy group matches against Nigeria and Croatia.
Iceland will face everything that coach Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team will face against the threat of defeat, but against the individual class of Lionel Messi and Co., it will not be enough. Not even because nobody will take Iceland lightly after the European Championship 2016 and the Vikings were still looking for form in the test matches.
Argentina has been waiting for a title since winning the Copa America in 1993. In recent years, the Albiceleste was several times close, but then failed just before the finish. Not only in the 2014 World Cup final, but also in the Copa America 2015 and 2016 finals, against Chile and penalties on both occasions, Argentina lost out. Several coaching changes did not bring the hoped-for success and Argentina had to even long for the World Cup participation before the committed in the summer of 2017 Jorge Sampaoli the World Cup ticket yet solved – also thanks to Lionel Messi, who scored all three goals in the decisive game in Ecuador 3: 1 victory scored. For the superstar, it is now presumably the last chance for a world title, but there are quite a few skeptics who consider the Argentine defensive as too weak for the big throw, whereas the offensive is at its best. The only three tests in 2018 were completely different. In March, a disastrous 2-0 victory against Italy was followed by a disastrous 1-6 draw in Spain, but without the battered Messi. This laced in the only immediate World Cup preparatory match against Haiti in a 4-0 victory a three-pack. Given the quality of the opponent, however, a pattern without greater value.
Possible lineup Argentina
Caballero – Salvio, Otamendi, Fazio, Acuna – Biglia, Banega – Pavon, Messi, di Maria – Aguero
After the coup at the European Championships 2016, of which especially the surprising 2-1 victory in the round of 16 against England and the battle cry “Huh” are remembered, Iceland has shown in the World Cup qualifiers that the success was no coincidence. In a group that was by no means simple, the Vikings, Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine, Finland and Kosovo were the first to win seven wins, one draw and only two defeats, and thus solved the world championship ticket in a direct way. Certainly, the successes were based on a well-rehearsed team, which comes compared to the EURO two years ago almost unchanged therefore and lives despite individual players such as Gylfi Sigurdsson or Alfred Finnbogason vorste the collective. Judging by the test matches since March, Iceland is currently a good distance away from its top form. Only at the dress rehearsal against Ghana (2: 2), it was enough to draw at least after three defeats against Mexico (0: 3), Peru (1: 3) and Norway (2: 3).
Possible lineup Iceland
Halldorsson – Eyjolfsson, R. Sigurdsson, Arnason, Skulason – Gudmundsson, G. Sigurdsson, Gunnarsson, Bjarnason – Finnbogason, Sigurdarson
Prediction Today: Win Argentina
Odds: 1.35
