Javier Mascherano : Argentina Vs Nigeria Is A World Cup Clasico

Speaking at a McDonalds event following the World Cup draw on Friday, Barcelona's Argentina international Javier Mascherano has labelled the meeting between Argentina and Nigeria on June 16 a World Cup Clasico.

The two continental powerhouses have faced off four times in the group stage in the last six editions of the World Cup, with Argentina narrowly beating the Africans by the odd goal on each occasion.

''It's a harder group than you think. It was clear we were not going to get an easy group,'' Mascherano was quoted as saying by Olé Argentina.

''All the rivals are difficult especially the first game, but you have to play it.

''Nigeria have become a clasico for us in the World Cup, they have been improving like all the teams.''

Mascherano started and went the distance in Argentina's wins against Nigeria at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups in South Africa and Brazil respectively, and also featured in the recent friendly in Krasnodar.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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