Argentina is red hot 2/11 favorites with Betfred to get their 2022 World Cup off to a flyer against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday – indeed Lionel Messi and co could rack up a big score against a Saudia side who have not got out of the group stages in any of the last five World Cup tournaments.

Only Brazil is shorter than Argentina in World Cup outright betting lists and Lionel Scaloni’s side, who are on a mammoth 35-game unbeaten run, look well equipped to go very deep in Qatar. They will certainly expect to win Group C and so do bookmakers Betfred, who make them 2/5 favorites to top the section ahead of 9/2 chances Mexico and Poland. Saudi Arabia is a whopping 25/1 to win Group C.

Argentina sailed through qualification, winning 11 and drawing six of their 17 matches and conceding just eight goals along the way – an impressive set of results meant they had an 11-point cushion over third-placed Uruguay. They also ended a 26-year drought by winning the 2021 Copa America, where they beat Brazil in an enthralling Maracana final.

Confidence is high that Argentina can go all the way in Qatar and finally provide Lionel Messi with the World Cup trophy that he craves so much before the curtain comes down on his incredible career. Messi, who scored seven goals in qualifying, is 10/1 third favorite with Betfred to win the Golden Boot and he is just 4/6 to score at any time in this opening fixture.

Few teams have had more preparation time for Qatar than Saudi Arabia which began training camp on October 24. It’s the preparation that Herve Renard’s side will have needed despite an almost flawless qualifying campaign because they are about to take a huge rise in class from playing the likes of Palestine, Uzbekistan, and Singapore.

Most of the Green Falcons’ best results in World Cup finals have come against African nations and their record against European sides is pretty desperate – played eight, and lost eight without scoring a single goal. Argentina is better than most European sides right now so this looks like a nightmare opener for Saudi.

Players to Watch

Argentina: Lionel Messi 

Messi has returned to something close to the best form in his second season with Paris Saint-Germain, the superstar forward having been directly involved in 26 goals in all competitions – a tally only Erling Haaland and team-mate Neymar can match among players from clubs competing in Europe’s top five leagues.

The 35-year-old has already stated he expects this to be his final World Cup and, having lifted some almighty weight off his shoulders with his part in last year’s Copa America triumph, he is now determined to become a world champion with his country.

Messi failed to register a knockout-stage goal in his previous four World Cups, totaling 756 goalless minutes on the pitch, but he has netted six times in the group stage and will back himself to add to that tally in this opener.

Saudi Arabia: Saleh Al-Shehri

Renard is without 17-goal Fahad Al Muwallad due to the winger failing a doping test earlier this year, but there are several other options to call upon in the final third.

Al-Shehri is among them, and the Al-Hilal striker will be looking to make his mark in Qatar after netting from all four of his shots on target in the AFC third-round qualifiers to finish joint-top of the scoring charts.

However, of the 11 goals Saudi Arabia has scored in the finals, four of those have come from the penalty spot – a higher proportion than any other side competing in Qatar.

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Prediction

There is a huge class gap between these sides and Argentina will be desperate to get their tournament off to a flyer, so this has the potential to become a bit of a romp.

Argentina to win-win to nil (8/13) looks banker-rated for those that like a short price but a better value wager here is to back Argentina to score more than three goals in the game, which is a very appealing 6/4 with Betfred. An early breakthrough could open the floodgates.

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia prediction: Argentina to win the match.