Jordan
Argentina
AT&T Stadium in Dallas hosts the first ever meeting between these two nations, with reigning champions Argentina, already through as group winners, looking to maintain their 100% record against an already-eliminated Jordan side with nothing left to play for but pride and history.
Jordan — Al-Nashama
Jordan led for long spells against Algeria before two corners undid them in the final 25 minutes, continuing a worrying pattern: three of their five goals conceded at this World Cup have come from corners. Jamal Sellami has no fitness concerns and the lineup pencilled in here makes no changes, with Yazid Abulaila in goal behind a back five of Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Abualnadi, Yazan Al Arab, Abdullah Nasib and captain Ehsan Haddad.
Mousa Al Tamari, set to win his 95th cap, and Ali Olwan remain Jordan's two biggest threats. Olwan, who scored the nation's first-ever World Cup goal, sits just one strike behind Hamza Al-Dardour's all-time national record of 31 and will fancy levelling it here. Jordan, debutants at this tournament, have at least scored in each of their first two matches, a feat no Asian side had managed since Ivory Coast managed it across three back in 2006.
Argentina — La Albiceleste
Lionel Messi turns 39 having just become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 18 goals, and the lineup pencilled in here still has him starting, with Lionel Scaloni expected to manage his minutes rather than rest him outright given the record chase. Cristian Romero is ruled out with the knee injury sustained against Austria, and Marcos Senesi continues at centre-back alongside Nicolas Otamendi, with Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolas Tagliafico at full-back.
Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes and Exequiel Palacios control midfield, with Giuliano Simeone wide and Julian Alvarez partnering Messi up top rather than Lautaro Martinez. Argentina haven't conceded more than once in any of their last nine matches and are bidding to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup, a feat that would move them level with Germany on four titles.
Predicted Lineups
Group J Permutations
Argentina have already secured first place in Group J after two wins from two. Jordan's elimination was confirmed after back-to-back defeats to Austria and Algeria. The actual jeopardy in this group is unfolding elsewhere, in Algeria's meeting with Austria for second and third place.
Key Battle
Jordan's defence vs set pieces. Three of Jordan's five goals conceded so far have come from corners, and that vulnerability hasn't gone unnoticed. Argentina's quality from dead-ball situations, even in a rotated side, gives them an obvious route to goal if open play proves stubborn against a well-organised Jordanian back five.
Prediction
Jordan will look to summon some spirited resistance in what's already a landmark first World Cup campaign, but the gulf in class between the world champions and a tournament debutant ranked 71 places below them is simply too wide. Expect Argentina, even with one eye on the knockouts, to have enough to win comfortably.
Jordan 0–3 Argentina — Messi, Alvarez, Lo Celso
⚽ Don't forget to submit your prediction at bantamtalk.com/predictionleague before kickoff!