Can Cape Verde beat Argentina in their World Cup knockout match
Can the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup knockout stage beat a soccer giant? Reuters senior sports correspondent Rohith Nair breaks down Cape Verde's chances against Argentina.
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AI GeneratedCape Verde, the smallest nation to ever reach the World Cup knockout stages, faces a daunting challenge against the reigning champions, Argentina. While Argentina and Lionel Messi are the overwhelming favorites, Cape Verde hopes to defy the odds once again and secure a historic upset.
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Behind me is the Miami Stadium, where on Friday, the smallest nation that ever qualified for the
World Cup knockout stages, faces the biggest challenge of all, the reigning world champions,
Argentina. Standing in Cape Verde's way is Lionel Messi, the Argentina captain,
who is the top scorer of the tournament's six goals, including a free kick against Jordan in
the last group game. Cape Verde's leader is at the other end of the pitch. 40-year-old
Virginia has become one of the breakout stars of the World Cup, not only on the pitch, but
even on social media. Former Argentina international Pablo Zabaleta, who's on FIFA's technical study
group, said he analyzed Cape Verde's games and he expects them to sit back in a deep, compact,
low block. And what do Cape Verde have to do? Well, the biggest thing that they need to do
is to deny Messi any space in and around the box, because that's where he's most dangerous.
Argentina are the overwhelming favorites going into this game. In fact, bookmakers have given
Cape Verde only a 7% chance to qualify for the Round of 16. But then they have defied all odds
to go past the group stage, and they will believe that they can do it one more time to upset the world champions.