Argentina v Columbia Tips

Argentina will be looking to put their World Cup Qualifying Bid back on track when they face Colombia on Saturday.

 

Argentina’s last World Cup Qualifier was a result that sent shockwaves round the globe. Diego Maradona’s side were beaten six-one by second bottom Bolivia, a result which must be the biggest upset of the qualifying campaign thus far. Maradona’s superstars will be keen to put that game behind them, and the best way to do that is with a comprehensive victory over Colombia on Saturday.

 

Colombia (9/1, Bet365) won the reverse fixture two-one, and those who are unconvinced by Argentina (4/11, StanJames) may fancy the same result at a whopping 40/1 (WilliamHill). However, the Colombians will be very likely to adopt a much more defensive mentality away from home, and to try to play for a draw (4/1, Bet365) so their chances of scoring may be limited.

 

The main problem for the Colombians will be finding a way to tame Lionel Messi, who is a best priced 7/2 (Boylesports) to open the scoring on Saturday. There isn’t a defender in the world who has, of yet, been able to contain the Barcelona winger, and like at Barcelona, the problem is that if defenders double up on him, then they leave space for the other attackers. Argentina’s other attackers, Carlos Tevez (4/1, Boylesports), Diego Milito (9/2, VictorChandler) and Sergio Aguero (4/1, VictorChandler) are all world-class players in their own right, and so any space left will definitely be exploited.

 

Colombia don’t have anywhere near the Argentine’s standard in attack, and have struggled badly for goals all campaign, notching only six in twelve matches. Their stand-out player is probably Wigan hitman Hugo Rodallega (12/1, Bluesq), although the side is much more about hard-work and a tight defence than attacking flair. Colombia have faced Brazil twice already, and managed to hold them to goal-less draws (16/1, SportingBet) home and away, so they will be difficult to break down, and many people who aren’t completely convinced by Argentina may fancy Bet365’s 9/10 that Colombia win with a 1.5 goal headstart, thus permitting a one goal defeat, as well as a draw.

 

Argentina have been hit and miss thus far in their twelve group fixtures. They have won five, drawn four and lost three, and though they posses probably the best attack in the continent, if not the world, they have often found it difficult to break down sides, and are not nearly as dominating as rivals Brazil. They should be good enough to beat Colombia, but it could be a close game, and odds of 9/1 (WilliamHill) on a two-one victory for the home side are very tempting.

 

Recommendation

 

Asian Handicap – Colombia + 1.5 (9/10, Bet365)

 

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Tags: Argentina,  Colombia,  Columbia,  Diego Maradona,  Diego Milito,  Sergio Aguero