Cape Verde’s fairytale faces its biggest test against Argentina
Defending champions Argentina begin their knockout campaign against World Cup debutants Cape Verde in a classic David-versus-Goliath showdown at Miami.
Lionel Scaloni’s side cruised through the group stage with three wins from three, conceding just once, while Lionel Messi has continued to roll back the years, scoring six goals and extending his remarkable run of scoring in seven consecutive World Cup matches. With Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez and a wealth of experience around him, Argentina enter the tie as overwhelming favourites.
Cape Verde, however, have been one of the stories of the tournament. The Blue Sharks progressed from a difficult group featuring Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia without losing a game, becoming the first World Cup debutants to reach the knockout stage since 2010. Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha has been central to their success, helping his side keep three clean sheets and frustrating some of the competition’s biggest names. While Cape Verde’s organisation and defensive resilience have earned widespread admiration, Argentina’s attacking quality and tournament pedigree are expected to prove decisive.
