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Argentina v Nigeria Odds point towards winning start for Maradona

The odds for Saturday's World Cup Group B clash between Argentina v Nigeria match in Johannesburg point towards Maradona's side getting off to a winning start in the tournament. Bookmakers are offering 1/2 about the third favourites in the World Cup outright betting to pick up all three points with Nigeria as big as 7/1 and the draw a general 3/1 chance.

Full list of Argentina v Nigeria Odds

Fans tuning in to watch this game on BBC 1 at 15:00 can expect plenty of attention to be dedicated to World Cup legend, Diego Maradona. When the current Argentina coach sits in the Ellis Park Stadium dugout, it will be his first taste of being invovled in a World Cup match since 1994, when ironically he made his last ever appearance in an Argentina shirt in the World Cup group game against Nigeria! On that day, the Albiceleste won 2-1, a result that Maradona would surley take a repeat of on Saturday and is one of the more favoured pre-match scorelines amongst bookies at 7/1.

Argentina head to the World Cup in great form having won their last five matches averaging three goals per games, seemingly putting their inconsistent qualifying campaign behind them. Many people are predicting that Maradona could be the team's acchilles heel with irrational team selections and unpredictable behaviour cited as the main threat to Argentina's chances of success in South Africa.

As unpredictable as Maradona may be, one thing that is predictable about Argentina is the multiple goalscoring threat from its forward line that is probably the best of all 32 nations. Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Ageuro and Diego Milito certainly give Maradona a selection headache when it comes to picking his forwards but will be nothing compared to the problems that opponents defences will face.

The 4/5 on offer with bet365 about their being more than 2.5 goals in the Argentina v Nigeria match is as good a bet as you could find on this game given that for all Argentina's strengths upfront, they do have huge question marks to answer at the back and with just thirteen caps between the three goalkeepers in the squad, the ball could be hitting the back of both nets whenever Argentina play during the World Cup.

Nigeria also posses a decent goalscoring threat in the form of Everton's Yakubu, Portsmouth's John Utaka and Obafemi Martins and a clean sheet for either team looks unlikely.

Whilst it's difficult to see Nigeria getting anything from the game, they are sure to prove tough opponents and a small bet on Argentina to win 3-2 at 28/1 may provide plenty of entertainment whilst watching this one.

Argentina v Nigeria Prediction

Expected goals in this game with both teams stacked with goalscoring threats. Argentina should be too good for their African opponents and the predicted scoreline is 3-2 @ 28/1 with Bet365.

Argentina v Nigeria odds

Argentina 1/2
Draw 14/5
Nigeria 7/1

First Goalscorer
Lionel Messi 7/2
Sergio Aguero 9/2
Diego Milito 9/2
Gonzalo Higuain 5/1
Carlos Tevez 5/1
Martin Palermo 6/1
Maxi Rodriguez 10/1
Obafemi Martins 12/1
Yakubu 12/1
Kanu 14/1
Utaka 18/1

Odds by Bet365 who are refunding all correct score, first/last/anytime scorer, scorecast and HT/FT bets on any World Cup match that finishes 0-0.

Posted: Friday, 11th June 2010
Author: Tony Smith
Tags: world cup, argentina, nigeria, lionel messi, bet365,

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