Group J · Matchday 1
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Live descriptive stats
Predicted = the pre-match model's expected goals; actual = xG created so far. A calibration read, not a forecast.
Descriptive only — the pre-match probability tile above does not change during the match.
Analysis
How it plays out
Both sides run a possession dominant system, so this becomes a test of who executes the same ideas better on the day. Algeria's aggressive press (PPDA 11.1) against Argentina's deeper build-up (PPDA 19.1) creates a clear territory question: can Algeria force errors high up, or will Argentina play through the press and find space behind it?
What decides it
Both sides run the same system (possession dominant), so execution quality separates them, not tactical asymmetry. Lionel Messi carries the marginally higher scoring probability (10.7% vs 6.5%).
Off the pitch
Lionel Scaloni (8 years in charge of Argentina) vs Vladimir Petković (2 years). That tenure gap shows up in squad familiarity and set-piece coordination.
The angle
The model gives Algeria just 12.6% to win. Every World Cup produces group-stage upsets; the question is whether this fixture is one of them.
Latest news & match context
- 'Cowardly' Thomas Tuchel blasted for 'coaching catastrophe' in England's World Cup capitulation: Football legends lead outrage at Three Lions' manager's tactics after heartbreaking exit to Argentina · Daily Mail — Football · 16 Jul
- Jude Bellingham slaps Argentina star after England exit World Cup · The Independent — Football · 16 Jul
- World Cup 2026: Tuchel latest after England exit; Argentina players criticised for banner – live · The Guardian — Football · 16 Jul
- 'It's the middle of the goal!': Jude Bellingham left fuming with Jordan Pickford for Argentina's equaliser in World Cup nightmare - as Lionel Messi discovers England star's penalty 'cheat sheet' · Daily Mail — Football · 16 Jul
- World Cup 2026 today: Live updates, news as England suffer semifinal defeat against Argentina - July 16 · ESPN · 16 Jul
- Stage:
- Group J · Matchday 1
- Date:
- 16 Jun
Ranked by likely importance. None of these feed the forecast: the probabilities rest on team strength, venue conditions and the style matchup.
- 1.Squad availability: 1 carrying a fitness doubt across the two squads, 1 of them projected starters. The forecast does not adjust for who is missing: its lineup channel currently contributes zero, so this is context the probabilities do not include.
Argentina
Argentina come in at close to full strength.
Algeria
Algeria: 1 carrying a fitness doubt.
- DoubtAnthony Mandrea, the first-choice goalkeeper, is recovering from Shoulder injury and is a fitness watch item; if unavailable the projected XI shifts.
Availability runs in Argentina's favour here: Algeria are managing a fitness concern over Anthony Mandrea, while Argentina's projected XI looks intact.
Availability from the predicted squads and injury feed; forecast adjustments from the model's own decomposition. See /docs/methodology/.
Chance-creation momentum
rolling 10-minute xG · delayedExpected goals created in the trailing 10 minutes, Argentina minus Algeria: a description of recent chances, not a forecast. Built from the same delayed snapshot as the rest of this page.
Live commentary & events
- 8'VAR reviewF. ChaibiVAR review under way.
- GoalL. Messi· R. de PaulL. Messi scores for Argentina.17'
- SubstitutionG. Montiel· N. MolinaArgentina change: N. Molina.46'
- SubstitutionL. Martinez· J. AlvarezArgentina change: J. Alvarez.55'
- SubstitutionT. Almada· N. GonzalezArgentina change: N. Gonzalez.55'
- GoalL. MessiL. Messi scores for Argentina.60'
- 64'SubstitutionH. Boudaoui· H. AouarAlgeria change: H. Aouar.
- 64'SubstitutionA. Gouiri· M. AmouraAlgeria change: M. Amoura.
- 64'SubstitutionA. Hadj Moussa· R. MahrezAlgeria change: R. Mahrez.
- GoalL. Messi· N. GonzalezL. Messi scores for Argentina.76'
- SubstitutionL. Messi· N. PazArgentina change: N. Paz.80'
- SubstitutionC. Romero· N. OtamendiArgentina change: N. Otamendi.80'
- 81'SubstitutionN. Bentaleb· A. BoulbinaAlgeria change: A. Boulbina.
- 82'SubstitutionI. Maza· R. ZerroukiAlgeria change: R. Zerrouki.
Player involvement
Argentina
Pre-match forecast
goals
De gepubliceerde kans voor deze wedstrijd staat vast bij de opstellingsbevestiging (≈1 uur voor de aftrap) en wordt daarna niet meer bijgewerkt. Dat is het getal waarop de terugblik na afloop afrekent. De live-winkans in de Live-sectie is een aparte, vertraagde, beschrijvende schatting; die vervangt de gepubliceerde voorspelling niet.
Most likely scorelines
- 1–015.3%
- 2–014.3%
- 1–110.6%
- 0–09.4%
- 2–19.0%
From the Dixon-Coles joint Poisson with the low-score correction. Scorelines are listed in probability order; this is a description of the model's distribution, not a recommendation.
Post-match calibration
Pre-match probability vs realised outcome
- Argentina win· realised69.9%
- Draw22.0%
- Algeria win8.1%
Brier and log-loss on a single fixture are noisy; the calibration plot in the post-tournament research note aggregates these across every match.