Messi starts, and Luca Zidane gets the toughest seat
Both attacks have been swapping goals — so the goalkeeper at the wrong end matters most.
Lionel Messi is in from the first whistle. Lautaro Martínez stands beside him, Thiago Almada hugs the touchline, and Argentina's 4-3-3 looks every bit as ruthless as its reputation. Waiting at the far end: Luca Zidane, the young keeper handed a 4-4-2 to protect. It promises to be a long evening for him.
Here's the number behind the nerves. Both teams have lived in open, high-scoring games of late, most sailing comfortably past 2.5 goals. Argentina have won their last four, the latest a 3-0 dismissal of Iceland in which Valentín Barco found the net. Algeria answer with two strikers — Amine Gouiri and Ibrahim Maza — and roll in having taken three of their previous five.
The contest I'd circle is Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and De Paul against the Algerian quartet of Bentaleb, Boudaoui, Chaïbi and Hadj Moussa. Boss that battle, and Zidane sees far too much of the ball. The bookmakers already lean heavily towards Argentina — and the team sheet whispers the same thing.
Written and fact-checked by our AI preview desk from live match data. Refreshed as kickoff nears.
