Argentina prepares for Round of 32 challenge
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, are set to continue their title defense in the Round of 32 against Cape Verde. The match, scheduled for Friday, July 3, at 6pm (22:00 GMT), will take place at Miami Stadium in Florida, US. This encounter marks the first time these two national teams will meet.
The South American giants advanced to the knockout stage by winning Group J with a perfect record of nine points from three matches. Their journey to this stage has been highlighted by the performance of Lionel Messi, who has scored six goals, positioning him as an early contender for the Golden Boot. Messi, at 39 years old, continues to set new records in the tournament.
Cape Verde, an island nation with a population of just over half a million, made history by reaching the Round of 32 as one of only four debutant teams to do so. They secured their spot as runners-up in Group H with three points. Their presence in the knockout stages makes them the smallest country ever to achieve this feat in the World Cup.
Coaches’ perspectives on the upcoming match
Despite Argentina being considered strong favorites, coach Lionel Scaloni has dismissed suggestions that Cape Verde will be an easy opponent. Scaloni noted that his team had been analyzing potential opponents, including Cape Verde, even before their qualification was confirmed. He emphasized the need for respect towards their opponents, stating, “They are a good team, and they are not here by chance. We must respect them and that’s what we will do.”
Cape Verde coach Bubista affirmed that his team would maintain their fearless approach, which proved effective during the qualification and group stages. He highlighted the team’s confidence in their methods, stating, “Since we arrived, we have trusted in our own way of working and in what we have done.”
The match is anticipated to be a significant moment for Cape Verde, as their World Cup campaign has not only elevated the team’s profile but also brought international attention to the nation itself. This will be only the third time in World Cup history that a debutant team faces the reigning champions in the knockout stages.
Team news and potential paths
In terms of team news, no injuries have been reported within the Argentina squad. However, Cape Verde will be without Telmo Arcanjo due to a hamstring injury. On a positive note for Cape Verde, Sidny Lopes Cabral is expected to return to the lineup after serving a one-match ban for accumulating yellow cards in previous games against Spain and Uruguay.
Argentina‘s predicted lineup features Martinez in goal, with a defensive line of Molina, Romero, Martinez, and Medina. The midfield is expected to include De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, and Almada, supporting forwards Messi and Martinez. For Cape Verde, the predicted lineup has Vozinha as goalkeeper, a defense of Moreira, Lopes, Borges, and Cabral. The midfield is anticipated to consist of Pina, Mendes, Duarte, Monteiro, and Semedo, with Livramento leading the attack.
Should Argentina advance past Cape Verde, their path to the semifinals appears favorable, with potential matchups against Australia or Egypt in the last 16, followed by Switzerland or Colombia in the quarterfinals. Data from 25,000 pre-match simulations indicates an 81 percent chance of Argentina winning the game in regulation time, and an 89.4 percent chance of reaching the last 16.
Argentina has a strong record against African opponents in the World Cup, having won their last seven such matches. Their only loss to an African team in the tournament was a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in 1990. The upcoming match against Cape Verde will be broadcast on TyC Sports and TyC Sports Play in Argentina, and on SuperSport, New World TV, and DStv in Cape Verde.
Source: aljazeera.com