Monday 16/06/2014, 21:00, World Cup Group F, Iran vs Nigeria
Iran vs Nigeria Betting Preview
Dropping points against Iran in Group F is more or less the same as suffering an elimination in the first stage of the competition. Nigeria is not exactly favorite to advance to the next stage, but as long as they can secure all three points in this game and earn a decent result against Bosnia and Herzegovina, they will stay alive in the race. The Asian nation doesn't have high expectations for World Cup 2014, but they will not give up without a fight and can cause a lot of problems by defending for 90 min.
Iran vs Nigeria Betting Odds
Iran 3.80, Draw 3.10, Nigeria 2.10
Iran vs Nigeria Betting Tips
Nigeria has a couple of reliable strikers that can provide them with the edge over less than stellar defenses and they are lucky to play against exactly these types of opponents. Even Argentina has some issues with the back line, but fortunately for the South Americans, they have so many offensive players feared by opponents, that virtually no one will take chances against them.
As long as Nigeria can exercise constant pressure over Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as Iran, they won't have much to worry about in their own half. They share the same weaknesses with other African countries, as the offensive is potent and the midfield decent, while the defenses are comprised of aging players. Stephen Keshi knows that in order to stand a chance, this team will need to take more chances upfront and hope that opponents will fail to score on the counterattack.
The manager is yet to resolve his conflict with the Nigerian federation, as the latter refused to pay the money it owes and this could be a problem at the World Cup 2014. This doesn't mean that Keshi or the players he trains will not perform at full potential in the opening game.
Iran is one of the weekest teams participating in this tournament and they have a single striker, capable of posing some problems. Ghoochannejhad is not exactly a top scorer and he will get stranded up front, which would further diminish his chances to score.
Key Facts
- Nigeria uses an overly offensive formation with three strikers, and just as many midfielders, with the latter frequently joining the attackers.
- The two teams were supposed to meet twice in friendly games but both got canceled
Iran vs Nigeria Betting Odds Prediction
What makes this match interesting for punters is that bookmakers are willing to give top odds for Nigeria. This is the opening match and as long as the odds revolve around the value of 2.10 for the African nation to win, it would be a mistake to miss out on the opportunity.
Bet: Nigeria @ 2.10 with Pinnacle Sports
