Spread: Argentina (-1.5)

Analysis

Argentina arrive as defending champions with a spine of world-class talent and a squad that knows exactly how to turn control into goals. Jordan are stepping onto the World Cup stage for the very first time — that gap in experience and know-how doesn't disappear just because they defend hard. Jordan will park the bus, no question. But Argentina's attacking quality is built precisely for this situation: patient build-up, relentless pressure, and the kind of movement that pulls defensive blocks apart. Once that first goal lands, Jordan has to come out — and that's when Argentina feast. Group-stage goal difference also gives Argentina every reason to keep pushing. A nervy 1-0 with the handbrake on is possible, but there's real incentive to bury this one early and set the tone for the whole group. Yes, Argentina have been known to start tournaments slowly — their Saudi Arabia loss is the cautionary tale everyone quotes. But Jordan are a significant step below that level, and a compact block only holds if Argentina's forwards are misfiring badly. The class gap here is simply too wide for one match to bridge. Back Argentina to win by two or more — the defending champions have too much firepower and too much to prove to settle for a scrappy one-goal job against debutants.