Argentina vs Zambia Prediction: An inevitable outcome in Buenos Aires?

After edging past Mauritania 2-1 on Friday, Argentina play a second friendly in March at La Bombonera against Zambia on Wednesday (00:15).

Read on for my Argentina vs Zambia predictions, accompanied by the latest team news and match odds.

Argentina vs Zambia Odds

Argentina are just 1/28 to win, with the draw 11/1 and Zambia 25/1 for a huge upset.

Team News

Having torn his anterior cruciate ligament at the back end of last week, Strasbourg forward Joaquin Panichelli will cruelly miss out on this summer's World Cup.

Argentina are currently without defensive duo Leonardo Balerdi (calf) and Gonzalo Montiel (hamstring), who both pulled out of Lionel Scaloni's squad ahead of the international break.

Lionel Messi was introduced as a second-half substitute against Mauritania, but could feature from the start this evening.

Zambia boss Moses Sichone has no major injury headaches to contend with, although he will be sweating over the condition of influential midfielder Prince Mumba. The 25-year-old maestro was involved in a nasty head collision during yesterday's training session, resulting in him requiring several stitches.

Mumba's Power Dynamos teammate Willard Mwanza could be set for a busy evening between the sticks, while Leicester City's Patson Daka – who has netted 21 goals in his 46 international appearances – will likely lead the line.

Argentina to win & under 4.5 goals @ 4/6

Although Zambia will undoubtedly look to raise their game in what is a high-profile encounter for the African minnows, it's hard to see this one ending in anything other than a convincing home victory.

La Albiceleste have registered four consecutive friendly wins (including Friday's triumph over Mauritania) since concluding their World Cup qualifying campaign at the summit of the CONMEBOL standings, defeating Venezuela and Puerto Rico in Miami before comfortably dispatching Angola at Luanda's Estádio 11 de Novembro.

No South American outfit scored on more occasions during World Cup qualifying than Argentina, who booked their place in this summer's competition way back in March of last year.

Zambia's recent form provides little evidence to suggest a different outcome is possible. Prior to their early AFCON elimination, they failed to avoid defeat in any of their three November friendlies. Moreover, the Zambians lost five of their eight World Cup qualifiers, keeping just one clean sheet in the process.

However, despite the talent on show for the hosts, only one of their last eight games has produced four or more goals and with several of their squad heading back to Europe after this game, there is a chance they may slow up in he second half.

Julian Alvarez to score 2+ goals @ 2/1

Having already netted on 17 occasions so far this term, Julian Alvarez will be confident he can continue his goalscoring purple patch against Zambia.

The diminutive forward has become a real talisman for Atletico Madrid since arriving in the Spanish capital in the summer of 2024, as was evident during this month's Champions League meeting with Tottenham.

After bagging a brace at the Metropolitano, Alvarez struck an important equaliser to settle the visitors' nerves in North London.

Although he was unable to find the net on his 50th appearance for his country on Friday evening, don't be surprised if the former Manchester City star records his fourteenth international goal, and maybe more.

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