Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Predictions, Odds & Picks: World Cup 2022

At +500, Argentina is one of the tournament favorites, and they kickstart their 2022 World Cup schedule against Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team in the World Cup.

Can Argentina use this game to set the tone for the rest of their tournament? 

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Prediction, World Cup:

The winning team model predicts Argentina will win this Group C game with 63% confidence. The model also predicts an 18% chance of a tie/draw.

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Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Odds, Outrights, Over/Under

• Match Result: Argentina (-550) | Draw (+600) | Saudi Arabia (+1700)
• Draw No Bet: Argentina (-5000) | (+1250)
• Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 (-165) | Under 2.5 (+115)

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Odds, Outrights, Over/Under

• Match Result: Argentina (-550) | Draw (+600) | Saudi Arabia (+1700)
• Draw No Bet: Argentina (-5000) | (+1250)
• Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 (-165) | Under 2.5 (+115)

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Match Info

2022 FIFA World Cup — Group Stage C

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022

Time: 5 a.m. ET

Venue: Lusail Iconic Stadium, Qatar

Coverage: FS1

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Analysis

This is undoubtedly one of the most uneven matches of the Group Stage, and there is a massive chasm between the two teams regarding talent.

Lionel Scaloni has Argentina firing on all cylinders; they are unbeaten in 35 games and won the 2021 COPA America. La Albiceleste has played 10 games in 2022, in which they scored 26 goals and allowed just two.

Scaloni has his team playing a refined soccer style, with the most possession playing out in the midfield. Midfield maestro Giovani Lo Celso is out injured, but there are plenty of high-quality replacements to form a midfield trio alongside Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul. These players simply move the ball around until they find Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, or Lautaro Martinez close to the opposition’s goal.

At the back, Argentina has the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, and more.

Saudi Arabia played an expansive style under its last head coach, Juan Pizzi. But this opened them up, and in 2018, they were beaten by Russia 5-0. Herve Renard has restored the balance to Saudi Arabia’s game, with a focus on defense. His side normally sets up as 4-5-1.

None of Saudi Arabia’s squad play in a non-domestic league. While this means they’re in tune with each other, there’s a lack of international exposure that will hinder them against bigger teams. 

The Green Falcons also lack discipline at times, and they have lost four matches at the World Cup by a margin of four or more goals. The team has only kept one clean sheet, and that was against Belgium in 1994.

Saudi Arabia simply won’t be able to handle Argentina in this game, and the best that they can do is to keep the game as respectable as possible.

I think they will shut up shop at the back, and this will be relatively successful, but ultimately Argentina’s attack will prevail.

I’m going with a 2-0 win to Argentina with  Messi to score.

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia Game Result Odds

• Match Result: Argentina (-550)
• Draw No Bet: Argentina (-5000)
• Over/Under Goals: Under (+115)
• Argentina to Win to Nil: (-165)
• 3Way Handicap Tie: Argentina -2 (+275)
• Player to Score and Team to Win Match: Lionel Messi (-140)