Argentina's impressive attacking options mean the bookmakers consider them one of the frontrunners for the 2018 World Cup.
A tough group could be problematic for Jorge Sampaoli's side though as they face Croatia, Nigeria and Iceland for a place in the knockout stages. The South Americans have been plagued by a series of near misses on the international stage too, losing four of the last five Copa America finals as well as falling at the final hurdle four years ago in Brazil when beaten 1-0 by Germany.
JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images2018 World Cup Qualification
There were times when it looked as if Argentina might not even make this edition of the World Cup. A stuttering qualifying campaign saw Sampaoli's side win just seven of 18 matches.
Perhaps most concerningly, the top-heavy squad scored just 19 goals during the entire qualification campaign - the lowest tally of any South American qualifier for the finals. Lionel Messi top scored with seven goals but no one else managed more than two.
World Cup History
Twice winners in 1978 and 1986, it's been a case of so near, yet so far since then. Getting out of the group stage has been no problem for La Albiceleste but the knockout stages have proved a frustrating experience.
Runners up in 1990 and 2014, Argentina's issues in finals extend beyond the World Cup and culminated in a frustrated snap retirement from Messi in June 2017 following yet another Copa America defeat before the Barcelona star made a U-turn on his international future.
dabblebet2018 World Cup Squad
| GK | DEF | MID | ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nahuel Guzmán | Gabriel Mercado | Javier Mascherano | Lionel Messi |
| Wilfredo Caballero | Nicolás Otamendi | Ever Banega | Gonzalo Higuain |
| Franco Armani | Federico Fazio | Lucas Biglia | Paulo Dybala |
| Nicolás Tagliafico | Giovani Lo Celso | Sergio Agüero | |
| Marcos Rojo | Ángel Di María | Cristian Pavón | |
| Cristian Ansaldi | Manuel Lanzini | ||
| Eduardo Salvio | |||
| Marcos Acuña | |||
| Maximiliano Meza |
Latest World Cup odds
| Market | Price |
|---|---|
| To win the World Cup | 9/1 (10.0) |
| To make the World Cup final | 4/1 (5.0) |
| To win Group D | 6/10 (1.60) |
| To qualify from Group D | 2/13 (1.15) |
| To be the top European team | 15/8 (2.88) |
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