Betting tips for Argentina vs Italy - 23.03.2018

The debut of Luigi Di Biagio at the head of the Squadra Azzurra is the big news of this, the first game of the transalpine since his traumatic elimination in the play-off against Sweden last November, which is played in Manchester with the Albiceleste as host. Argentina needed a miracle from Messi to get into the World Cup. The Albiceleste needed to overcome a goal against in Ecuador with a hat-trick from Rosario, and ended up going directly to the world tournament.

The Argentina  team finished fourth of the group, with 7 wins, 7 draws and four defeats in 18 games, having 3 different coaches in these 18 matches.

The overrated Jorge Sampaoli has not managed to improve the performance of the team, which came the praise of crowds and whose influence on the team's game has been invaluable. Messi is still accused of placing his best friends in the starting lineup, being evident in every game that the midfield is not up to the front formed by Messi, Higuain, Icardi, Dybala, Di Maria and Sergio Agüero . Sampaoli once again leaves Gonzalo Higuaín out, and does not usually count on talented Dybala or Icardi players.

His predecessor, Edgardo Bauza, was fired after the embarrassing game in Bolivia (2-0 for the locals, one of the worst teams in this qualifying group). With Sampaoli, who made his debut by beating Brazil in a friendly played in Australia against Brazil last July, Argentina drew at the Estadio Centenario de Montevideo (0-0) and gave up a home draw against the bottom side. Venezuela (1-1).



Italy played with Spain the first place of Group G in Madrid, a match that lost with justice. That defeat condemned them to this repechage, which came as one of the best second, adding 23 points out of 30 possible. However, the regrettable approach of the then coach Ventura condemned them to miss their first World Cup since the 50s of the last century to be unable to score a goal to the Scandinavian side.

Di Biagio has made the leap to the bench of the senior team after having achieved success with the lower categories. Next to him, two players of enormous future arrive like Patrick Cutrone and Federico Chiesa, to which he knows very well.

Captain Gigi Buffon remains in the goal, contributing his experience and his worth in the field, where Di Biagio will continue counting on him. Who is not there is Giorgio Chiellini, injured in the last game with Juventus.


For Italy, this match is the beginning of a new stage in which Di Biagio hopes not only to win, but to play football well. The example of Lopetegui seems in the mind of the Italians, that depending on how they respond, they will continue looking for a new coach or not. The forecast is that at least one of the teams will be unmarked.

Argentina vs Italy Prediction: X/1 4.50

Argentina vs Italy   Betting Tip: Over  2.5 Goals @ 1.80

Argentina vs Italy  Score Recommendations: 2-1 10.00