Argentina
The defending world champions arrive as one of the tournament favourites. Messi, who won his first World Cup in Qatar 2022, will be playing in what may be his final tournament — and the motivation to go out on a second consecutive triumph is intense. Argentina's collective quality beyond Messi — Álvarez's relentless energy, De Paul's tempo control — makes them dangerous in every phase.
At a Glance
Key Players
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Tactical Analysis
A flexible 4-3-3 that shifts to a 4-4-2 mid-block. Scaloni has built genuine cohesion and tactical adaptability. De Paul dictates tempo, Álvarez leads the press with incredible energy, and Messi creates from deeper positions as his role has evolved.
Betting Angle
Argentina are typically competitive favourites — value often found in 'both teams to score' markets given their attacking quality and occasional high defensive line vulnerability.
Did You Know?
- Argentina won their third World Cup in Qatar 2022, their first since Maradona's iconic 1986 victory.
- Lionel Messi's international goal record stands among the highest of any player ever to represent their country.
- Argentina's unbeaten run before Qatar 2022 was 36 matches — the second longest in football history.