Ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup round of 32 match, Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni expressed his respect for opponents Cape Verde. The clash between defending champions Argentina and the debutant side is scheduled to take place at Miami Stadium, Florida, on Saturday (4/7) at 05:00 WIB.
Scaloni dismissed suggestions that Cape Verde's success in reaching the knockout stage was mere luck. According to him, the team's impressive performance during the group stage, including drawing against major teams such as Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, is clear proof of their quality. "We have analyzed them thoroughly. They are at this stage because of quality, not chance," Scaloni said as quoted by Reuters.
The team nicknamed Tubarões Azuis has indeed caught attention by achieving positive results against strong teams. This is why Scaloni chooses to remain cautious, even though Argentina boasts a superior record throughout the group stage with three consecutive victories.
On the other hand, Argentina is currently on a positive trend, especially with Lionel Messi's brilliant performance. The megastar has recorded six goals in this tournament while establishing himself as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with a total of 19 goals. Despite being favorites, Cape Verde's solid defense, which successfully held Spain to a goalless draw in the group stage, presents a real challenge for Argentina's attack in the upcoming duel.
