Argentina v Greece, Tuesday 22nd June, 7.30pm
At one stage, it had appeared as though Diego Maradona’s team were not even going to make the 2010 World Cup finals, although Argentina managed to scrape into the automatic qualifying places and everyone now seems to be backing them to go all the way. Incredibly, La Albiceleste are 7/2 with Ladbrokes to win the tournament, despite the fact that they have only beaten Nigeria and Greece thus far. There is roughly 5/1 available on betfair, with their odds shortening after the Germans slipped up against Serbia.
Argentina’s final match of Group B is against Greece and on first glance, you might think that the 8/13 (bet365) about the south Americans winning in Polokwane is a bet worth having. However, if Maradona has any sense (something which is open to question), he might use this occasion to give some of his star players a rest. This is especially when you consider that top spot in the section is in the bank. It remains to be seen as to whether Lionel Messi (4/1 Blue Square) and Gonzalo Higuain (9/2 William Hill) feature and the price on the favourites will shorten if the strongest possible XI are named.
The Greeks are right back in contention to make it to the last sixteen stage, with Otto Rehhagel’s team coming from behind to beat Nigeria on Thursday. Paddy Power offer 11/2 that they land another maximum haul against their illustrious opponents, although the draw (11/4 Ladbrokes) is a far likelier option, especially if South Korea are struggling to beat Nigeria in Durban. It was Dimitrios Salpingidis that hauled them back into contention against the Super Eagles and the Panathinaikos forward is 12/1 (Stan James) to send his team into a shock lead.
Even so, there was an element of fortune about the way the Euro 2004 winners beat Nigeria, with Vassilis Torosidis going down easily after minimal contact from Sani Kaita’s challenge. To compound matters, the Olympiakos defender then scored the winner, although it’s possible that Argentina could run rings around them. The current World Cup favourites are 8/5 (bet365) to lead at half-time and full-time and it’s easy to see them putting a few goals past a team that failed to keep a clean sheet in either of their other two Group B games.
Sporting Bet offer 28/1 that it’s a 4-0 win to the favourites, although it’s always worth assuming that a creaking defence might concede one goal and yet another 4-1 victory to La Albiceleste is a 33/1 chance (Sky Bet).
