The final match of what has the potential to be one of the best days in the World Cup so far on Thursday sees the pick of the second round of group games behind played when Argentina take on Croatia in a huge Group D contest.
These two are the standout sides in the group and will be expected to qualify come the end of it but Argentina failing to win their opening match has piled the pressure on them, something that Croatia could intensify here. Croatia know if they win this match they are through.
Special Offer
Do you think there will be a goal in this game? If so, sign up to Coral and get a HUGE 28/1 on a goal being scored! Click the banner below to take advantage of this massively enhanced price. Available until kick off.
Argentina
There were a few big sides who were disappointing in their opening matches but I would suggest none more so than Argentina. They were very one-paced, laboured and sluggish against an Iceland side who were game but ultimately were there for the taking. This was an Argentina side who were looking to their talisman Lionel Messi once again but it might be time for someone else to take the mantle.
I was really disappointed by Argentina in that match. I wasn’t surprised because I followed their qualifying campaign and that was dreadful from start to finish and so I was hoping they would lay a marker down to suggest that was then and this is now. They did nothing of the sort and they could pay a significant price for it.
Croatia
In a world of chalks and cheeses if I was disappointed with Argentina I could hardly be more impressed by Croatia. I liked them before the tournament started and while you would have to accept they were playing nothing in Nigeria, who were awful on the night, they got on the front foot and they stayed there which was good to see.
There is so much class in this Croatia side that they should be confident going into this match. I hope they play to secure their qualification in this match by winning the game even though a draw will probably do the job for them long-term. We saw how good Croatia were in attacking areas against Nigeria and we’ll get to see their defensive qualities here too.
Team News
There is talk that Jorge Sampaoli is going to ditch the 4-2-3-1 formation in favour of the 3-4-3 he used so successfully at Chile. Whichever formation he uses Cristian Pavon could come into the side after impressing off the bench against Iceland.
Croatia will be without Nikola Kalinic for the rest of the tournament after he had a bust up with the coach after refusing to come off the bench against Nigeria. He cited a back injury but that didn’t seem to wash.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
As long as Croatia believe they can win this match I think they have every chance of doing so. Something has to give with Argentina. If they carry on as they have been they won’t win the match and if they move formation as has been touted they won’t have had long to work on it.
If Croatia can keep Lionel Messi quiet I really think they can win this game. They have the better players in the centre of the park and they have the personnel who can get after the Argentina back line and we saw against Iceland how easily it can be exposed. The draw is a danger here so my main bet on the Croatians will be DNB but I can’t resist backing the Europeans. If they do win though I expect it to be tight so the 4/1 it is by one goal appeals.
Tips
WON – Back Croatia to beat Argentina (DNB) for a 3/10 stake at 2.75 with Skybet
Back them here:
Back Croatia to win by 1 goal for a 1/10 stake at 5.00 with Boylesports
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
