Group F: Argentina Vs Bosnia – Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro – 1.00AM (Ugandan Time)
All eyes will be on four time Ballon d’or winner Lionel Messi when Argentina face off with Bosnia and Hercegovina in a group F opener at the Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro. The Barcelona star despite huge impact at his club has only scored once in two World Cup final appearances with that goal coming against Serbia in 2006.
However, this time around, the two time winners have enough quality going forward with Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gonzalo Higuain and Rodrigo Palacio plus Real Madrid attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria all available to take the load off Messi.
On the other hand, Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic are expected to lead the hunt for goals against an Argentine back-line that appears the weakest link in the South American side. The Bosnians are the only debutants in the edition, and will hope to become the first side to win their maiden World Cup match since Senegal shocked France in the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea.
Argentina have won only two of their nine World Cup games against European sides but boost of a good record in the group stages with nine wins out of 12 group matches.