Argentina vs Egypt Bet Builder Tips: 26/1 for more Messi magic

Argentina were made to sweat against Cape Verde in one of the best World Cup games we have ever seen, but having come through it they now face Egypt in the last 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday (12pm local, 5pm BST, ITV1).

Below you can find my Argentina vs Egypt Bet Builder Tips as we search for a winner. 

Argentina vs Egypt Odds

Argentina to win in 90 mins

I’m not as hot on Argentina as many other pundits for this World Cup, but they certainly should have enough to beat Egypt. The Pharaohs drew with Belgium and Iran in their group but beat New Zealand and edged past Australia on penalties after the Socceroos made the strange decision to sub on Mat Ryan - who got nowhere near four Egyptian spot-kicks. 

Argentina needed extra-time to get past Cape Verde but eventually got the job done, and Egypt may provide kinder opposition given they are yet to keep a clean sheet at this World Cup. Lionel Scaloni will be hoping for a far simpler night on Tuesday. 

Lionel Messi to score from outside the box

All the attention is once again on Lionel Messi heading into this game, as he prepares to drag his side through another knockout round. He wasn’t at his sparkling best against Cape Verde but still scored a wonderful goal, and I’m backing him to find the net again in this one.

Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are level with him on seven goals now, with Harry Kane also hunting the 39-year-old down. Instead of backing Messi just to score, I’m going to increase our odds by backing him to find the net from outside the box. He had a ridiculous nine shots against Cape Verde and four of them came from further than 12 yards out. 

I think he can ping a long-range effort in, or find the net with a free-kick.

Lionel Messi to win 3+ fouls

Still so tough to stop for any opposition. He was fouled five times against Cape Verde, four times against Austria and once against Algeria in three starts so far, and Egypt are going to have to get stuck into him. 

I think 3+ fouls is a fairly low bar for Messi to hit, especially given that Argentina are expected to dominate possession once more. This should be a fairly solid pick for our Bet Builder. 

Yasser Ibrahim to get booked

Yasser Ibrahim made four fouls and was booked against Australia, so he is my number one pick to get carded at centre-back for Egypt.

With Messi and Lautaro Martinez running at him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be booked once again. A big price for a yellow takes our Bet Builder to 26/1.

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