Argentina Face Cape Verde as Messi's Last Dance Continues: The Most Mismatched Last 16 Fixture Ever?

[BrokenDave72]

Argentina take on Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Friday July 3 at 6pm ET in the most one-sided-on-paper fixture in the round of 32. Argentina are the defending champions, ranked first in the world, have won all three group games and Lionel Messi has scored six goals in the tournament at 38 years old. Cape Verde are a nation of approximately 560,000 people, qualified for their first World Cup by drawing all three group games without winning once, and advanced on goal difference as one of the eight best third-place teams.

The football logic says Argentina win comfortably. The tournament narrative says never dismiss anyone. Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha has been the player of the group stage in the division of goalkeepers who kept their team alive through sheer individual excellence. The three group stage draws were not accidental. Cape Verde defended in a disciplined, compact 5-4-1 that made it extremely difficult for Spain, Morocco and Uruguay to break them down, and they will presumably deploy the same approach against Argentina.

Messi being rested for the final group game against Jordan and arriving at this match fresh is the specific preparation choice Scaloni has made. The rest of the Argentina squad showed against Jordan that they can score without him, with Lautaro Martinez and Gio Lo Celso both finding the net. The Cape Verde result on Friday will either be a comfortable Argentina win that keeps Messi's scoring run going and his Golden Boot challenge alive, or it will be the story of a tournament. Football does not guarantee which it will be.

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