FC Zenit Saint Petersburg defender Emanuel Mammana is confident that Argentina will advance to the knockout rounds of the World Cup and has labelled the team that parades the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero one of the best in the world.

Exactly a month ago, the Super Eagles showed off their World Cup credentials by coming from behind to beat Argentina 4-2 in a friendly in Krasnodar and Mammana has acknowledged that the three-time African champions are difficult opponents.

''Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, and all the teams want to beat it. We have a very difficult group: Croatia plays very well, Iceland - fight a lot, with Nigeria we met recently and lost,'' the official website of Zenit Saint Petersburg, citing Veja, quoted Mammana as saying.

''Jorge Sampaoli is a great coach who likes attacking football. Sometimes the defenders of this style of play are not easy, but this tactician has great knowledge. I believe that he will bring Argentina to the right path.

''The main favorite of the tournament, I would call Brazil, where there are great players. As always, Germany is among the contenders for the title, which is always strong.

''And I would also single out France and Belgium, although not rank them among the favorites.''

Mammana, 21, who has three caps for La Albiceleste, was on the bench in their loss to Nigeria on November 14.

Igho Kingsley