World Cup 2026: Cape Verde will not be an easy game for Argentina

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni has warned his team not to underestimate Cape Verde ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 clash at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Scaloni stated that the debutants’ unbeaten streak in the group stage against heavyweights like Spain and Uruguay was no coincidence.

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He urged his players to maintain maximum respect and caution in the sudden death knockout match, highlighting Cape Verde’s tactical discipline.

“We are in a good moment, but now the margins are very small. This is a game where if you lose, you are eliminated. We know that,” Scaloni told reporters on Thursday.

“They are a good team. We have already watched them, not only because we played against them, but because we were analyzing possible opponents and then they qualified.”

“To be honest, we are not surprised. They are a good team and they are not here by chance. We must respect them and that is what we will do.”

But Scaloni dismissed concerns about his dependence on Argentina’s scoring talisman, emphasizing that the team continues to create numerous scoring opportunities regardless of who finishes them.

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“Of course, everything he does is more visible, but there is one more striker in the team,” Scaloni said.

“We create chances and Leo Messi, in addition to being a great player, is a striker. Whether he plays with Julián (Álvarez) or with Lautaro (Martínez), we will try to get everyone to score like anyone else.”