The blockbuster World Cup final between Argentina and France has arrived, and there are endless ways to bet on the clash.
Normally, my expertise resides in the world of American Football, rather than the worldwide counterpart. But for a game this important I decided to take my trade into the match.
I specialize in touchdown betting in the NFL, so the closest application of this comes in an obvious fashion: goal scorer betting.
Read on for my best bet predictions on anytime goal scorers in the Argentina vs. France tilt.
Lionel Messi (+190 via PointsBet):
The GOAT, the Little Magician or simply the Face of the World Cup. Whatever you want to call him, Lionel Messi is the main player you should be betting on for Argentina goal scorers.
Messi has five goals in this tournament and a whopping 27 shots. He can also dish it off for highlight-reel assists like the unreal play he made against Croatia in the semifinal to set up an eventual Julian Alvarez goal.
Julian Alvarez bags his second from a magical Messi run 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/ctf1aNzdgh
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 13, 2022
Part of the reason why Messi’s scoring odds are so low is because he’s the designated penalty kick taker for Argentina.
With the way the Moroccans applied second-half pressure on this France defense in the semifinal, it’s very conceivable to see the French potentially concede a penalty after being beaten by a run in the box.
Finally, I don’t think any player on the pitch needs motivation in this match. But after falling in the World Cup final in 2014 to Germany, Messi might “need” this more than any other player in the world to finalize his legacy.
This is his last World Cup, and a goal and win in the final would essentially lock up any debate between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as to who is the greatest of all time.
Well, maybe not actually, but it would go a long way!
Olivier Giroud (+310 via FanDuel):
The ultimate poacher, Olivier Giroud would be my second pick to hit the back of the net for France.
Giroud is the all-time leading goalscorer for France, and though he may not be a spring chicken at 36, he has a world-class ability to create chances for himself.
With four goals in three of the six games he's played, Giroud has been a consistent scorer for this French side.
Yes, superstar Kylian Mbappe has five goals to lead France, but his skillset is showcased more on the wing with breakneck runs and blinding speed. As a result, Mbappe has assisted Giroud in addition to producing for himself.
The main risk here is Giroud will likely get subbed out by the 70-minute mark due to his age and the depth Les Bleus have on the attack.
If France are able to get off to a fast start – and they do have five first-half goals in this tournament – I expect Giroud to be heavily involved in that output.
Pick: Giroud to Score |
