Venezuela Vs Argentina
Venezuela Vs Argentina Friday 3 September, 2021 – 01:00 (BST)
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier
Pick: Argentina Win To Nil
Odds: 13/10
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds shown correct at time of writing: 1 September 2021)
Preview: Having been crowned Copa America champions less than two months earlier, the onus will fall on Argentina to make a winning return to World Cup Qualifying action. Lionel Scaloni’s men head to Caracas where a lacklustre Venezuela await.
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Venezuela – Lack of firepower to blame for qualifying woes?
Barring an extraordinary turnaround, Qatar 2022 will not be the tournament Venezuela (W1 D1 L4) break their World Cup duck. Under two different coaches, with current interim manager Leonardo Gonzalez assuming the reins from Rafael Dudamel in January, La Vinotinto mustered one less goal than they do points (4) through six qualifiers. Consequently they sit second-bottom, above only Peru.
Hardly an inspiring platform heading into a September triple-header that sees them hosting the newly crowned Copa America champions, Argentina, before back-to-back contests away in Peru and Paraguay. After bowing out at the group stage in South America’s summer spectacle, scoring only in the 2-2 draw with Ecuador as they failed to register a single victory (D2 L2), their prospects would appear bleak.
Scoring has proven this team’s main stumbling block thus far. All nine rivals in CONMEBOL’s World Cup Qualifying plundered at least twice the amount that Venezuela has, which works out at 0.5 a game. Four of those saw them fire a blank. Two coming here in Caracas, sandwiching 0-0 and 0-1 scorelines versus Uruguay and Paraguay, respectively, with their sole victory of the campaign over Chile.
Argentina – Dependable defence can inspire winning return to qualifying?
Twelve points from six qualifiers is currently good enough for second place for La Albiceleste (W3 D3). It is six fewer than leaders Brazil, however, who have been flawless through the first half-dozen fixtures. Lionel Scaloni’s men started positively, winning three of four before successive draws with Chile and Colombia halted any momentum. They will, however, be buoyed by their recent Copa America success.
Victory in the final, defeating fierce rivals Brazil 1-0, has shone a light on the transformation this team has undertaken since Scaloni’s appointment. Argentina resume World Cup qualifying having not lost a match of any kind in more than two years (W12 D8). Furthermore, they conceded a measly three times in seven Copa America outings on their way to clinching the nation’s first title for 28 years.
Scaloni boasts a near full array of players to pick from – which is more than can be said for some of his counterparts, namely Brazil’s Tite. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the bedrock of a side that kept four clean sheets at the Copa America, including in the final against defending champs Brazil. Lionel Messi is fit and included. Meanwhile Martinez’s club team-mate, Emi Buendia, is also in contention.
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Venezuela Vs Argentina Betting Advice
Over confidence would seem the only issue preventing Argentina from making a winning resumption to their World Cup Qualifying endeavours. Lionel Scaloni must therefore ensure complacency doesn’t creep into their game following on from their triumphant Copa America campaign, with this their first outing since reeling off five wins in seven tournament games to lift the trophy for the first time in 28 years.
Venezuela Vs Argentina – Key Facts:
- Newly crowned Copa America champs Argentina (W3 D3) are unbeaten in WC Qualifying, picking up 12 points so far – eight more than struggling Venezuela (W1 D1 L4).
- Six of Argentina’s eight wins from 2020 onwards were ‘to nil’. In that successful Copa America campaign they conceded only three in seven games and recorded four clean sheets.
- If preventing the opposition scoring is Argentina’s main strength, finding the net is Venezuela’s primary weakness – netting three in six qualifying matches to date.
Hosts Venezuela look out of their depth. Four points, three scored and nine conceded is the grand sum of their efforts in qualifying thus far. Four of six outings seen them fail to find the net, which suggests this lean Argentine back line can easily keep them home side in check. La Albiceleste are coming off four clean sheets in six, each in victory, and should ease past a side without a goal in two of three home qualifiers so far.
Best Betting Odds – Venezuela Vs Argentina
Venezuela – 6/1 (Betfair)
Draw – 16/5 (Betway)
Argentina – 1/2 (WilliamHill)
