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Wednesday 25 June 2014

Nigeria set for make or break match







Argentina may already be assured of their place in the next round, but there's still plenty at stake for Alejandro Sabella's side as they take on familiar rivals Nigeria.

Defeat would mean the Super Eagles usurp them and win the group, almost certainly leaving Argentina with a tricky game against in-form France in the last 16, potentially followed by a quarter-final with old foes Germany.

A point would ensure the South American side top Group F, probably setting up a knockout game against either Switzerland or Ecuador. But the two-time champions will be eager to end the group stage with a third successive win and, if at all possible, an improved performance.

Sabella's side have been indebted to two pieces of Lionel Messi magic in laboured victories against Bosnia-Hercegovina and Iran.

Messi, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Tuesday, has so far been the only member of the much-vaunted "Fantastic Four" to shine in Brazil.
 
Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria will have to raise their game if the Argentines are to justify their status as pre-tournament second favourites.

The Super Eagles need a point to go through, while their result will be irrelevant if Iran fail to beat Bosnia-Hercegovina.

They have plenty of World Cup history against the Argentines - this is their fifth World Cup campaign, and the fourth time they have faced the South American heavyweights.

They have lost all three previous meetings but only by a single-goal margin. And given the Super Eagles are the only side yet to concede a World Cup goal in Brazil, it could be another frustrating 90 minutes for Argentina and their army of supporters.


                        MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
  • Nigeria have lost all three previous World Cup encounters with Argentina, all of which were in the group stage.
  • They were also defeated by Paraguay in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup, meaning they have lost all four of their World Cup games against South American opposition.
  • Including friendlies, the Super Eagles have won just one of six games against Argentina. That was a 4-1 victory in Abuja, when the visitors fielded an unfamiliar line-up.
  • Argentina also beat Nigeria in the final of the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and the gold-medal match at the 2008 Olympics.
Nigeria
  • Victory against Bosnia-Hercegovina gave Nigeria their first win in 10 World Cup games (W1, D3, L6).
  • They attempted 20 shots (including blocked efforts) against the Bosnians, although 14 were from long range.
  • Joseph Yobo is set for his 100th cap - and will become the first Nigerian to reach the landmark.
  • The Super Eagles are the only side who have yet to concede at this tournament. They have gone 221 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal since South Korea's Park Chu-Young scored against them in 2010.
Argentina
  • Argentina have won 11 of their last 14 World Cup group games (D2, L1), scoring 27 goals and conceding just five.
  • They have won four of five World Cup games against African opposition. Their only defeat was their first match in that sequence, a 1-0 loss to Cameron in 1990.
  • Lionel Messi has scored 22 goals in his last 22 games for Argentina.
  • Messi had just one touch inside the penalty area against Iran.

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