Jordan vs Argentina

Current version

What shaped the view

• The market is highly efficient and the edge is thin. The pick relies on Jordan’s Matchday 3 win-only state: after the first Argentina goal, Jordan must take earlier risks, raising late collapse and scoreline-extension risk. Main danger is Argentina accepting control because they do not need goal difference.
• Argentina start Alvarez and Lautaro with Paz, Lo Celso, Paredes and Palacios supplying control, plus Messi, Mac Allister, Enzo, De Paul and Gonzalez as late bench leverage. Jordan’s 3-4-2-1 has counter pieces and Tamari on the bench, but the cover path weakens if the wingbacks must chase.
• Table context: Argentina have 6 pts, GD +5; Jordan have 0 pts, GD -3. Argentina win or draw secures 1st in Group J; a loss still keeps top-two control but can swing 1st vs 2nd depending on GD and #69, changing the R32 route from M86 vs Runner-up H to M84 vs Winner H. Jordan need a win to reach 3 pts and enter the third-place race; draw or loss is effective elimination, while 3rd-place qualification would send them into one of the fixed 3rd Group J paths. Closest rejected family was Goals Over/Under: Over 3 needs Jordan scoring or four Argentina goals, while 3-0 wins this handicap and only pushes the total.