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Who: Argentina vs Cape Verde
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Star-studded Argentina continue their defence of the World Cup, facing Cape Verde on Friday in a contest likened to a David vs Goliath battle.
The 2022 title-holders have stormed their way into the knockouts with three wins out of three, thanks to the masterclass of Lionel Messi, who seems to be enjoying his best World Cup yet.
His six goals have made him an early contender for the Golden Boot, as the 39-year-old continues to break records on the world’s biggest stage.
Giants Argentina are clear favourites against Cape Verde, the tiny island nation that has become the neutrals’ favourites. Only one of the four debutants to reach the Round of 32, Cape Verde is set to become the smallest country to feature in the World Cup knockouts.
Here’s everything you need to know about Argentina vs Cape Verde:
How did Argentina and Cape Verde reach the round of 32?
Argentina were the winners of Group J with nine points. Here’s a list of their results:
Cape Verde were the runners-up of Group H with three points. Here’s a list of their results:
In-form Argentina wary of surprise package Cape Verde
Although Argentina head into the game in Miami – the home of Messi’s club Inter Miami – Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni rejected suggestions that Cape Verde will be easy opponents for the two-time world champions.
The country of just more than half a million inhabitants, Cape Verde’s World Cup campaign has not only raised the profile of the squad but also put the entire island-nation on the map.
“They’re a good team. We’ve already watched them, not just because we are playing against them, but because we were analysing potential opponents and then they qualified,” Scaloni said.
“We are not surprised, to be honest. They are a good team, and they are not here by chance. We must respect them and that’s what we will do.”
Meanwhile, Cape Verde coach Bubista said his team’s fearless approach, which helped them through the qualification and the group stage, would not change against Argentina.
“Since we arrived, we have trusted in our own way of working and in what we have done. If others did not respect us, that was their issue. We trust our work,” he added.
Argentina have a kind route to the semifinals. Australia or Egypt await in the last 16 if Argentina end the Cape Verde fairytale, while Switzerland or Colombia are likely quarterfinal opponents.
Argentina vs Cape Verde prediction
Opta’s supercomputer has calculated an 81 percent chance of Argentina winning the game in regulation time, and an 89.4 percent chance of reaching the last 16.
From 25,000 pre-match simulations, Cape Verde only progressed in 10.6 percent of the simulations.
Argentina vs Cape Verde: Kickoff time, TV channel
To check the TV listings for your country, head to FIFA’s TV listing schedule here.
Argentina vs Cape Verde: Head-to-head
Friday’s game will be the first meeting between Argentina and Cape Verde.
Argentina have won each of their last seven games against African opponents at the World Cup, but did slip up in their very first such match, losing 1-0 to Cameroon in 1990.
Another piece of history for Cape Verde sees them become just the third side to face the World Cup holders in the knockout stages of their debut appearance, after Norway lost 2-1 to Italy in 1938, and Ghana were beaten 3-0 by Brazil in 2006.
Argentina vs Cape Verde: Team news
No injuries have been reported in the Argentina camp, but Cape Verde’s Telmo Arcanjo is out with a hamstring injury. Left back Sidny Lopes Cabral will be available again after serving a one-match ban against Saudi Arabia for picking up yellow cards against Spain and Uruguay.
Argentina’s predicted lineup
(4-4-2): Martinez (goalkeeper); Molina, Romero, Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Martinez
Cape Verde’s predicted lineup
(4-1-4-1): Vozinha (goalkeeper); Moreira, Lopes, Borges, Cabral; Pina; Mendes, Duarte, Monteiro, Semedo; Livramento
