Argentina vs. Iceland 2018 World Cup Odds & Expert Analysis

While it may be a little unfair, the best players in the world are very often judged on the amount of silverware that they rack up over the course of their career. I say it’s unfair because while one player can have an impact on a game, it is a whole team effort that is required to win consistently, especially on a stage as big as the World Cup. Lionel Messi has won everything there is to win in the domestic game, but there are still some football fans who judge him harshly because he has not been able to win a World Cup with Argentina. Fortunately for him, the 2018 World Cup Odds at MyBookie Sportsbook place them among the favorites. But Argentina has not been given any favors in their opening round draw, as there is not an easy game in the bunch in Group D. The South Americans will start out on Saturday against one of the biggest underdogs at the latest Russia 2018 Odds, Iceland, in a game that will very likely deliver us a bunch of goals.

2018 World Cup Odds & Expert Analysis: Argentina vs. Iceland

• When: Saturday, June 16 at 9 AM EST
• Where: Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow
• TV: FOX
• Radio: TuneIn
• Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
• 2018 World Cup Odds: Argentina -291 (Over/Under at 2.5 goals)

Why Consider the 2018 World Cup Odds for Argentina?

• Confederation: CONMEBOL
• Head coach: Jorge Sampaoli
• Captain: Lionel Messi
• FIFA Ranking: 5

The bad news for Lionel Messi is that this may be the least impressive squad of players that he has had with him at the World Cup. That is not to say that this team can’t win it all, with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria among the potential game changers on this squad. What we are saying here is that after their lackluster performance in the CONMEBOL qualifying group, Argentina looks as though they may be up against it once they get to the better teams in this tournament, which is even assuming they get out of this group. Argentina has several players who can score goals, but they also have a defense that a time resembles Swiss cheese. It’s not the type of defense that wins champions, but it is going to make this team a lot of fun to watch.

Possible Line-Up

• 23-W. Caballero
• 14-J. Mascherano
• 6-F. Fazio
• 17-N. Otamendi
• 3-N. Tagliafico
• 11-Á. Di María
• 18-E. Salvio
• 15-M. Lanzini
• 20-G. Lo Celso
• 10-L. Messi
• 9-G. Higuaín

Why Consider the 2018 World Cup Odds for Iceland?

• Confederation: UEFA
• Head coach: Heimir Hallgrímsson
• Captain: Aron Gunnarsson
• FIFA Ranking: 22

Iceland was the surprise team of the tournament at the European Championships back in 2016, but the question now is whether they can deliver an encore. I certainly think that they have a shot at getting out of this group, but they are probably not going to be able to play their preferred style of football. Iceland qualified for Russia by having one of the best defensive groups out there, but that back line has been hit hard by injuries in the lead-up to this tournament. Iceland simply doesn’t have the depth in their squad to cover all those losses, so we are perhaps going to see a bit of a patchwork defense that might just be vulnerable and weak. Still, this is a tight-knit squad that always fights for one another right to the end, so do not count them out.

Possible Line-Up

• 1-H. Halldórsson
• 6-R. Sigurðsson
• 23-A. Skúlason
• 15-H. Eyjólfsson
• 8-B. Bjarnason
• 14-K. Árnason
• 20-E. Hallfreðsson
• 7-J. Guðmunds­son
• 10-G. Sigurðsson
• 9-B. Sigurðarson
• 11-A. Finnbogason

Last Team’s Results

Argentina

• Argentina 4 – Haiti 0
• Spain 6 – Argentina 1
• Argentina 2 – Italy 0
• Argentina 2 – Nigeria 4
• Russia 0 – Argentina 1

Iceland

• Iceland 2 – Ghana 2
• Norway 3 – Iceland 2
• Iceland 1 – Peru 3
• Mexico 3 – Iceland 0
• Indonesia 1 – Iceland 4

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

If I was going to make just one wager on this game, it would be the OVER. This is a match-up that promises goals, and I think it will be Argentina that scores one more than Iceland. Score: Argentina 3 – Iceland 2