After drawing 1-1 against Iceland in their first game and losing
3-0 to Croatia in the second, the team that has great figure Lionel Messi comes with a last chance
to stay alive in the Football World Cup.
After a controversial week between rumors of dismissal of coach Jorge Sampaoli
and internal fights between the players, Argentina
needs to win to qualify for the second round. Losing or adding a point
automatically leaves the Albiceleste out. However, even winning the Argentines
could be eliminated: it will happen if Iceland also wins against Croatia and
does so by at least one goal less than Argentina. In his last match, Messi plays his great chance to put his
team among the 16 best in what could be his last World Cup.
Iceland-Croatia, the other key duel
In Rostov, 800 kilometers from St. Petersburg, Iceland will
face Croatia in a vital game in Group D. The Icelanders still maintain their
aspirations to advance to the round of 16 of the World Cup, although they must
win for that. His recent fall to Nigeria left open the definition in the zone,
in which the Nigerians were with three units, Iceland and Argentina with one
and Croatia as leader with six. The Croatians have already secured their place
in the next World Cup and have a considerable goal difference that almost
guarantees that they will be first after the last date. Zlatko Dalic will
include several players who are usually substitutes in their starting eleven,
preserving the cautioned for the last 16. In an exciting group close, Iceland
goes for its last chance to qualify against Croatia in a match that matters to both
Argentina and Nigeria.
On the last date of Group D, Nigeria and Argentina will face
each other hoping to get a ticket to the round of 16 of the Soccer World Cup. The Africans will
win, while the Argentines need the three points and hope that Iceland does not
beat Croatia, or do not for more than two goals than they do against Nigeria.
In this analysis we consider that Argentina will be able to
resurrect just in time, to be imposed against Nigeria and that the result in
the other match will help him to stay alive in the World Cup.
