The Reigning Champions, Argentina, are ready to take the field as they kick start the defence of their Title against the Desert Foxes, Algeria, in Kansas City on Wednesday, June 17, 6.30 am IST.
Lionel Messi will be on the pitch playing his 200th International game for his country, a major milestone for the legend as he appears in his record breaking 6th World Cup. All eyes will be on Messi.
Besides the limelight on the great man, Argentina will be expected to win and make a good start to their campaign, erasing memories of their loss to Saudi Arabia in Qatar four years ago. Without a doubt, the Champions have the team to launch a strong defence of their Crown.
With Emi Martinez in goal, Lisandro Martinez and Otamendi in defence, a brilliant midfield in Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul, and a starry attack in Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez, Argentina is a team brimming with exceptional talent, experience and pedigree.
The Algerians will have their work cut out for them and will have to dig deep. The Desert Foxes are a resurgent lot under Riyad Mahrez, their leader and a brilliant player in his own right, but of course, they do not enjoy the depth in the squad as compared to their rivals.
The Desert Foxes, however, are no pushovers either. Rayan Ait-Nouri in defence will be crucial for Algeria to keep the Champions at bay. The midfield will be manned by Houssem Aouar, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza, while the attack rests on Mahrez. The line-up is skilled, but the question remains whether Algeria can thwart the quality of Argentina.
It is a World Cup, and stranger things have happened already.
For The Love of Sport visit RizzSport
