Group C Preview ~ World Cup 2022
Argentina – Mexico – Saudi Arabia – Poland (Rankings As Of Finals Draw, April 1, 2022)
Argentina National Team Profile:
FIFA World Rank: 3
Manager: Lionel Scaloni
World Cup Appearances: 18
Best Finish: Champions 2 (1978; 1986)
Odds to Win Cup: +750
Odds to Win Group C: -250
Odds to Qualify: -1250
Group Stage Points Total O/U:6.5
Group Stage Schedule:
November 2 vs. Saudi Arabia
November 2 vs. Mexico
November 2 vs. Poland
Once again, the Argentina National Team is among the favorites to win the World Cup, but what has that really gotten them lately? The Hand of God is literally sitting with God this time around, as Diego Maradona isn’t around to give Lionel Messi all the shit he can give him again.
If you recall, Maradona’s comments affected Messi so much that he quit playing for his country to not have to deal with the constant of listening to what he can’t accomplish on a big stage for his Nation at the World Cup.
Listen, let’s all not be stupid about it, all right. Yes, Argentina has only won a pair of World Cups and the last one came in 1986. Naturally, there will always be a battle with Brazil as to who is not just the best country in this event, but in the history of the game. Brazil has 5 of these little trophies hanging around and Argentina has only 2.
They have both been constant competitors in this event since 1930, and the Copa America win in 2021 for Argentina was pretty big too. Finally getting over the hump that dates back to 1993, a Major piece of hardware had escaped this team time and again, and Maradona was always the first to post about their lack of success.
That won’t be happening anymore, and I can point out plenty of pundits, bettors, posters, and Tweeters who think Argentina is the best bet to hoist the hardware in Qatar. Save your money for more realistic things to happen, because South American football teams don’t win trophies when they are not on South American soil!
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Mexico National Team Profile:
FIFA World Rank: 13
Manager: Gerardo Martino
World Cup Appearances: 17
Best Finish: Quarterfinals 2 (1970; 1986)
Odds to Win Cup: +15,000
Odds to Win Group C: +450
Odds to Qualify: -125
Group Stage Points Total O/U: 4.5
Group Stage Schedule:
November 2 vs. Poland
November 2 vs. Argentina
November 2 vs. Saudi Arabia
The Mexico and Poland total for Group C points is 4.5, but they can’t both go over that number without Argentina falling apart and Saudi Arabia continue to have struggles scoring.
Can I just say now that I believe that Poland will choke again on a big stage, and Mexico will take 3 points from their meeting on November 2? That will put Argentina and Mexico tied atop Group C with 3 points while the Poles and Saudis will be behind the 8-ball early.
Of course, it has to play out that way for me to see the rest of the group play out, or else if those predictions are wrong then I just didn’t see it well. Hey, I am not perfect, but it is my opinion that Argentina and Mexico will be the two teams advancing to the Round of 16 from this group.
Mexico to qualify is listed at -125, and despite the marginal juice, I think it is the call to make here so I will list it below as one of the best bets. That match with Argentina on matchday 2 is going to be filled with yellow cards and excitement with so much on the line. Without a doubt, the winner of that affair takes the stranglehold on the group, and we all almost assuredly expect Argentina to be that squad with 6 points headed to the final match of the group stage.
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Saudi Arabia National Team Profile:
FIFA World Rank: 49
Manager: Gerardo Martino
World Cup Appearances: 6
Best Finish: Round of 16 (1994)
Odds to Win Cup: +75,000
Odds to Win Group C: +2,800
Odds to Qualify: +650
Group Stage Points Total O/U: 1.5
Group Stage Schedule:
November 2 vs. Argentina
November 2 vs. Poland
November 2 vs. Mexico
The Saudi team total is only 1.5 for Group C play, so that means they’ll have to either find a win or draw twice to take it down. So, where are those points coming from?
Let’s go on that limb again and assume Argentina takes the opening 3 points from the Arabian Nation that hasn’t seen the round of 16 since 1994. All 4 of the other cracks in the World Cup have fallen short at the final stage called group play, so there is a significant bit of attention on this Nation where they should get some decent crowd support, at least.
Well, maybe. Let’s say that Saudis aren’t exactly welcomed into Qatar without some good damn reasons to be there. Iran is involved with all of that, but we can only hope that the Political stuff can take a back seat for a few weeks to play some football and just bet kids again.
Everyone needs this right now, but I won’t get into that because I will go off on 15 tangents, LoL Anyway, where can Saudi Arabia find points was the question at hand. This is not a group they will enjoy scoring if they find the net at all. We have seen even in their friendly tuneups that scoring and Saudi Arabia aren’t words you use together.
So, we know Argentina invented a 1 – 0 match on a big stage, so if they score on the South American side I think a river will part and sheep will disrobe while the cows milk themselves! Miracles much? So, Poland might be where any success is found, and boy, I am sure down on this Polish squad… again.
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Poland National Team Profile:
FIFA World Rank: 26
Manager: Czesław Michniewicz
World Cup Appearances: 9
Best Finish: 3rd Place 2 (1974; 1982)
Odds to Win Cup: +20,000
Odds to Win Group C: +475
Odds to Qualify: -115
Group Stage Points Total O/U: 4.5
Group Stage Schedule:
November 2 vs. Mexico
November 2 vs. Saudi Arabia
November 2 vs. Argentina
Robert Lewandowski might be past his prime, and maybe that’s why Bayern Munich finally cut ties with him and let him go to Span to play with Barcelona. That is not exactly going well, and to add insult to injury Lewandowski had to watch Bayern take out Barcelona in UEFA Champions League just weeks before the Cup kicks off.
Lewandowski’s influence did nothing in their last major outing, and the only match the Poles favored is indeed the affair with Saudi Arabia. They are not heavy favorites, to say the least, as the line setters are only issuing a -135 on Poland to win that match outright and take 3 points.
Argentina is expected to take this group, and they are also listed at that same -135 to beat Poland in that 3rd Group Stage outing. So, the line setters are trying to walk us into thinking that Argentina is the Nation with a clear path to the Round of 16 and these other 3 teams just have to battle out for a second place.
Poland is down to 26th in the World Rankings, and let’s just face the fact that out of the 13 Nations from Europe, 26 is the lowest-ranked team from the region competing in the World Cup.
I mentioned 1986 when Argentina last hoisted the World Cup trophy. Well, that’s also the last time Poland saw the Round of 16, and we don’t want to even start with the 2018 results in Russia.
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World Cup 2022 Group C Predictions and Bets: (Bookmaker BetOnline)
Mexico to Advance to the Round of 16 @ -125 1U
Poland Under 4.5 Points @ -105 1U
Mexico Over 4.5 Points @ -110 1U
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