- Argentina have won their last 10 matches in all competitions (W10, D0, L0).
- Argentina have conceded just four goals in their last 10 games (0.40 goals-per-game).
- Mostafa Ziko has scored three of Egypt's seven goals in their last five games (G7).
Argentina the clear favourites to sail into the quarter-finals
Argentina will sail into the final eight of the FIFA World Cup when they face an organized but limited Egypt side at the Atlanta Stadium in the USA on Tuesday. Lionel Scaloni's Argentina are priced at 1.42 to win the fixture and those odds reflect the market's confidence of a routine progression for the two-time World Cup winners.
Lionel Scaloni has done an incredible job in moulding a team of absolute quality since August 2018, and Argentina look a clinical and ruthless unit at the moment. Messi's magic runs through this side and his goals and touches between the lines can unlock any defense in the world, but they look a well-drilled team with or without the ball and they can lock games up when needed.
Argentina have won their last five in all competitions (W5, D0, L0), including a 3-1 success over Jordan and a 3-2 extra-time grind past Cape Verde. Their all-competition record extends to 10 wins from their last 10 and they have conceded just 0.40 goals per-game across that run, which makes Both teams to score - No look like a no-brainer at 1.51.
Egypt have a goal threat but lack Argentina's control
Egypt are a much more limited team with Hossam Hassan making them a solid if unspectacular unit since his appointment in February 2024. They have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five, but back-to-back 1-1 draws in their most recent two games show that Egypt lack a killer instinct.
They are built to be compact, frustrating opponents and then break with pace when they win the ball back, but that means they will be pinned back for large spells of this game. Egypt have some firepower in forward Mostafa Ziko, who has three goals in his last five appearances, and Emam Ashour, who has one goal in one FIFA World Cup knockout-stage appearance. That should give them a counterpunch, but Argentina will dominate the game for long spells.
Argentina can win to nil
A 2-0 or 3-0 type result fits the numbers in this one, with Argentina's form and quality giving them the edge in a fixture that will be controlled by the two-time champions. Over 2.5 goals is priced at 2.02, which looks fair enough given the attacking thrust that Argentina can produce, but Egypt have been conceding 1.30 goals-per-game in their last 10 (G13, A10, D3, L3) so the most likely outcome here is an Argentina win to nil.
Romero has contributed at the top end too, with the defender scoring Argentina's only goal in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages so far (G1).
