Argentina v Iran World Cup 2014, 21st June Betting Preview
It is back to Group F on Saturday and the focus on one of the favourites to win the tournament outright, Argentina. They had to labour a bit for their opening win, but they took three points and another three here would send them cruising towards the knockout stages. It’s unlikely that Iran are going to add to the point that they earned in their opener.
Argentina v Iran Betting Tips
This looks a total mismatch in Group F and it could show off Argentina’s array of attacking talent. Argentina are heavy favourites in this one, which is the first meeting at the World Cup between the two sides. They have met once before, a friendly back in 1977 ending in a 1-1 draw. The Albiceleste took a 2-1 win over Bosnia to open their World Cup account here, and did struggle a bit. It was just little things going astray, little passes and moves not coming off. When they do, Argentina should be immense.
The South Americans have won ten and lost just one of their last 13 World Cup games, so they are in good shape at the finals. During that sequence of ten matches, they have conceded just the five goals and have scored 26. They have also won five of their last six matches played at World Cup finals, their loss in that sequence being their 4-0 defeat against Germany at the 2010 World Cup. Lionel Messi was on the scoresheet in their opening match, and he is 1/2 in the anytime goalscorer market. That was only his second World Cup goal. Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain are both odds-on in the anytime goalscorer market too.
Any hint of an upset here? Well, Argentina are without a clean sheet in their last three matches. But they aren’t likely to get troubled by Iran. Iran have only won one of their ten previous World Cup matches, that coming against the USA in 1998. They have faced South American opposition just once before at the World Cup, and that was against Peru in which Iran lost 4-1. Defence is the key to Carlos Queiroz’s Iran, it’s what got them to the finals, being the side to concede the fewest goals during qualification. It stood up to earn a 0-0 against Nigeria in their opening game and they are unbeaten in their last six (W2 D4). But they really haven’t got much to offer as an attacking unit, but it is still worth shooting over 2.5 goals for this one, as Argentina should win this comfortably.
Argentina v Iran Betting Odds
Argentina 1/8, Draw 9/1, Iran 25/1
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Argentina v Iran Predictions
Should be a fairly routine victory for Argentina and it would be great for the World Cup if they bring their shooting boots to this one. Except Argentina to win to nil at 1/2 and they should be good for a two or three goal winning margin, even against the solid Iranian defence.
