Russia 2018 Preview: Nigeria Vs Argentina

Tonight at St. Petersburg, Super Eagles and Argentina will battle for the second place qualification ticket in Group D of Russia 2018.

The match will be the 5th time both teams will play each other at FIFA World Cup. Super Eagles with 3 points sit in second place on the table and need at least a draw to progress to the next stage with hope of Iceland not defeating Croatia above 3 goals margin.

Wounded Lionel Messi and team mates have no other choice than to come all out for the 3 maximum points if they are to ever have any chance of progressing to round of 16. With just 1 point and minus 3 goals, Argentines certainly have to show their class tonight against Super Eagles team they’ve always defeated in previous World Cup meetings.

After the victory against Iceland, Super Eagles are highly motivated for tonight match. The results Iceland and Croatia got against Argentina must have given the Super Eagles confidence.

If reports making the round is anything to go by, the disarray in the Argentines camp is a weakness the Super Eagles can take advantage of. Reports say players want to pick the starting eleven as they don’t longer trust the coach and his tactics.

The last time both teams played at Brazil 2014, the star players were Messi and Musa, who scored 2 goals each. If any of the team is to progress tonight, Messi and Musa are the players to make it happen.

Ahmed Musa, scorer of the 2 only Super Eagles goals is the player Nigerian fans are counting on tonight for the goals and the Argentines will have to watch him closely.

Lionel Messi has showed that when push come to shove, he is the man to count on. The whole nation of Argentina expect him to perform if he is to be mentioned in the same breath as Diego Maradona. At 31, Russia 2018 might be his last chance to ever win a FIFA World Cup and the journey starts tonight.