Argentina open the defence of their World Cup crown tonight after they tackle Algeria in Kansas Metropolis.
Lionel Scaloni’s aspect, who additionally received the Copa America in 2024, are among the many favourites to go deep as soon as once more however they received’t discover it simple towards an Algeria aspect that impressed throughout qualification.
Vladimir Petkovic’s aspect topped their CAF group and have proven encouraging kind in current months, recording victories over the Netherlands and Bolivia whereas conceding solely twice throughout their final six matches.
The Fennec Foxes possess loads of attacking high quality by way of Riyad Mahrez, Mohammed Amoura and Amine Gouiri, and they’re going to view this fixture as a chance to show they’ll compete with one of many event favourites.
Argentina workforce versus Algeria
Argentina: Martinez, Montiel, Martinez, Romero, Medina, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Messi, Almada, Martinez
Substitutes: Musso, Rulli, Tagliafico, Otamendi, Molina, Senesi, Paredes, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Gonzalez, Alvarez, Simeone, Paz, Lopez
Algeria workforce versus Argentina
Algeria: Zidane, Mandi, Ait-Nouri, Belghali, Bensebaini, Chaibi, Boudaoui, Bentaleb, Maza, Gouiri, Moussa
Substitutes: Mastil, Benbot, Abada, Tougai, Belaid, Hadjam, Chergui, Zerrouki, Aouar, Titraoui, Mahrez, Benbouali, Amoura, Boulbina, Ghedjemis
The place to look at Argentina v Algeria: TV channel, stay on-line streams
Kick-off on Wednesday is at 02:00 BST (21:00 ET on Tuesday / 18:00 PT on Tuesday). Within the UK, stay protection is on ITV1.
Followers can stream the motion on an unlimited vary of units by way of the ITVX app.
World Cup 2026: Argentina v Algeria stats
- Solely Brazil (5) and Germany and Italy (4 every) have received the World Cup extra typically than Argentina (3), with no nation lifting the trophy on as many events as La Albiceleste since their first triumph in 1978
- Argentina might turn into the third workforce to win back-to-back titles, after Italy (1934-1938) and Brazil (1958-1962)
- They’ve certified for his or her nineteenth World Cup, with this their 14th participation in a row as a part of the third-longest present run, after Brazil (23) and Germany (19)
- The one event when Argentina didn’t advance from the group stage throughout their final 14 World Cup appearances was in 2002 underneath Marcelo Bielsa
- Lionel Messi holds the all-time report for many World Cup appearances, with 26 matches performed
- (13 targets, 8 assists). In 2022, he scored or assisted 10 of Argentina’s 15 targets (7 targets, 3 assists)
- Lionel Scaloni is the one Argentina head coach to win each the World Cup (2022) and the
- Copa America (2021, 2024), in addition to being the primary to guide Argentina at two consecutive World Cup tournaments since Carlos Bilardo, who received the competitors in 1986 and completed as runner-up in 1990
- That is Algeria’s fifth look on the finals and their first since 2014, with the World Cup in Brazil representing the one time they’ve progressed previous the primary spherical
- Algeria received two of their first three matches on the World Cup in 1982 however have been victorious in one among their 10 such matches since then, beating Korea Republic 4-2 within the group stage in 2014
- They’ve recorded one clear sheet of their 13 World Cup matches, sharing a 0-0 draw with England in 2010
- With eight wins in qualifying, Algeria achieved their highest such tally in a single marketing campaign, surpassing their seven victories in 2010
- Mohammed Amoura was the highest scorer in African qualifying, netting 10 targets in 10 matches and being concerned in 58% of Algeria’s targets, scoring 10 and aiding 4 of their 24
- Vladimir Petkovic beforehand led Switzerland to the spherical of 16 in 2018 and is the second Bosnian to take cost of Algeria at a World Cup, after Vahid Halilhodzic in 2014
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