Our prediction for this match:
Iraq
Match Time & Date:
11/10/2018
04:00 PM
Prediction: 0-2
Argentina
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium will host Thursday’s football game between Iraq and Argentina. Iraq aim to extend their unbeaten run to five games, but they will have a big fish to fry against the South American giants. Argentina failed to impress at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, with the team suffering a loss to France in the last 16 of the showpiece tournament. La Albiceleste quickly returned to winning ways, with the team beating Guatemala in a friendly in September, but they played out a goalless draw with Colombia in their last warm up game. Leo Messi will be rested against Iraq, but regardless of which players will be deployed in the starting XI, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the South Americans. It has to be noted that the two teams meet for the first time ever in a friendly match.
Highlighted Player (Giovanni Simeone):
Giovanni Simeone is a product of River Plate football academy. Simeone played for los Millonarios at senior level from 2014 to 2016 and he moved to Genoa in the summer of 2016. The former River Plate man scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw with Pescara on September 25, 2016 and two months later he scored a brace in a 3-1 victory over Serie A giants Juventus.
The prolific attacker netted 12 goals in 35 matches for the Rossoblu in the 2016/2017 Serie A campaign and, as a result, Fiorentina chiefs decided to sign him at the end of the season. The son of Atletico Madrid boss Diego joined the Viola on a five-year contract. Giovanni was born in Madrid on July 5, 1995 and due to his dual citizenship, he is eligible to represent both Argentina and Spain at senior level.
It has to be noted that he scored 12 goals in 12 appearances for the Argentina U20 team and he helped La Albiceleste win the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship.
Highlighted Team (Argentina):
Members of the CONMEBOL confederation Argentina national team are headed by coach Gerardo Martino and are considered one of the most nations in footballing world. Renowned for their attacking powers and defensive discipline Argentina have been playing their international matches since 1901 and their first ever competitive victory over Uruguay 3-2.
Commonly referred to as La Seleccion, Argentina are top of the FIFA World ranking, but their most recent records have been below par with the team last winning a major trophy in 1993. Two-time World Cup winners have lost the 2014 final to Germany coming agonizingly close to the crown they last won in 1986. Javier Zanetti is the most capped player with 143 matches to his name while Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi with 124 and 108 respectively are the current team members with most games to their name.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi is six goals short behind Gabriel Batistuta who is the team’s top scorer with 56 goals he scored playing for La Seleccion from 1991 to 2002.
Uruguay
Japan
Egypt
Zimbabwe
Peru
Brazil
United States
Trinidad & Tobago
Qatar
Algeria
Kenya
