Our football match prediction:
Argentina
Match Time & Date:
21/06/2018
19:00 GMT
Prediction: 1-1
Croatia
All eyes will be on Stadion Nizhny Novgorod when Argentina and Croatia take on each other in the Group D derby. Argentina dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Iceland in the opening match of their World Cup campaign, with Barcelona superstar Leo Messi missing a chance to score the winner from the penalty spot. The Croats, on the other hand, recorded a routine 2-0 win over Nigeria in their first group game and we predict that they are going to adopt a cautious approach in Thursday’s football game against la Albiceleste. Zlatko Dalic’s team is well balanced and seeing that key player Luka Modric impressed in the opener, we predict that the Croats are going to make life difficult for Leo Messi and Co. A close encounter is on the cards and we predict the two teams are going to share the spoils in Novgorod.
Highlighted Player (Sergio Aguero):
Sergio Aguero was born on 2 June, 1988 in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Sergio’s nickname is Kun and he used to play for Independiente and Atletico Madrid in the past. The Manchester City attacker has won two Premier League trophies with the Etihad Stadium outfit (2011/2012, 2013/2014) and he played in the Champions League semi-final with the Citizens in the 2015/2016 season. However, Real Madrid proved to be a big catch for Kun Aguero and his teammates in the semis of the elite competition. The Argentine forward won the Olympic Gold Medal with the national team in 2008, while lifting the FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy on two occasions (2005, 2007). Aguero scored 24 goals in the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign, but that did not help Manuel Pellegrini’s troops win the national championship. Kun was married to Diego Maradona’s daughter Gianinna, but the couple separated in 2012. Giannina gave birth to their son Benjamin in 2009.
Highlighted Team (Croatia):
While the national football team of Croatia also played international matches between 1940 and 1944, they only resumed their duties in 1990 after the country gained independence from Yugoslavia. Vatreni enjoyed a remarkable start on the international stage, winning the third place on their first ever World Cup appearance in France in 1998, while crashing out in the group stage at the 2002, 2006 and 2014 tournaments. Croatia also reached the quarter-finals at the 1996 and 2008 European Championships, proving they are rightly considered one of Europe’s top sides at the start of the 21st century. Long-serving captain Darijo Srna is their most capped player with over 130 appearances for the national team, whereas former Real Madrid striker Davor Suker is one of their most famous players and top scorer with 45 goals. Other notable footballers to have played for Croatia include Luka Modric, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic. Miroslav Blazevic and Slaven Bilic are the coaches that have been behind team’s biggest success stories up to date.
