Argentina vs Nigeria 2010

Tuesday, 25th May 2010 at 12:10pm

Argentina v Nigeria in the group stage has featured in the fixture list of three of the past five World Cup finals, dating back to USA 1994 when the Super Eagles of Africa made their finals debut.

On that occasion, Nigeria took a surprise lead but Argentina hit back with two goals from Claudio Caniggia, the second laid on for the Argentine forward by Diego Maradona in what would be his final game for Argentina.

Eight years later and the two teams were reunited in Japan and South Korea, having been drawn in the 'group of death' with England and Sweden; the South American giants ran out winners again thanks to a single goal from Gabriel Batistuta.

A further eight years later and the Super Eagles have the chance to lock horns with Maradona once again, following the appointment of the Argentine legend as head coach in 2008 and a successful end to a poor qualifying campaign which saw them finish fourth.

Despite a stumbling qualifying campaign, Argentina start as heavy favourites to top group B given the quality Maradona was able to call upon when he named his squad of 23.

Argentina arguably boasts the best attacking options in the entire tournament. Maradona can field any number of world class combinations up front, having picked Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Diego Milito and Gonzalo Higuain as well as current Fifa World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.

Having to face two world class forwards would be daunting enough for any side but knowing that the Argentine bench is likely to contain a further two will be enough to cause most teams sleepless nights.

As well as being potent in attack, Argentina is also relatively strong at the back, boasting the likes of Walter Samuel and Nicolas Burdisso, and can call on the services of Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria and Juan Sebastian Veron in midfield.

Argentina's main weakness appears to lie with its coach. In the past 12 months, El Loco has selected almost 100 different players and has elected to omit Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, two players that would make the squads of most teams around the world.

Maradona was also in charge of the team that lost 6-1 to Bolivia, equalling Argentina's record defeat and has made public his desire to play four centre halves in defence.

The Nigeria team of 2010 is a shadow of the side that lined up in 1994 which contained the likes of Finidi George, Raschidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh and Jay-Jay Okocha.

Where the Super Eagles are strong is in attack and can boast the considerably physical presences of Everton's Yakubu and Victor Anichebe, and the pacy Obafemi Martins.

If Nigeria is to cause an upset, the Super Eagles will need its strikers firing on all cylinders, running with pace at Argentina's aging defenders and hoping to create some good goal scoring opportunities, but all indications point to an Argentina victory and three points for El Loco.

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