Cabo Verde Ask Questions as Argentina Scrape Narrow World Cup Win

Argentina, the defending champions, secured a narrow 3-2 victory over tournament debutants Cabo Verde in a dramatic World Cup Round of 32 match that defied pre-game expectations of a lopsided contest.

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Argentina escaped with a 3-2 win.

The match proved to be one of the most exciting of the tournament, with both teams locked at 1-1 after regulation time. The game featured a spectacular goal from Lionel Messi, who received a long pass from the halfway line, controlled it impeccably, and finished past the Cabo Verde goalkeeper. However, Cabo Verde matched Argentina's intensity, with Sidny Lopes Cabral scoring a stunning long-range effort from an acute angle to level the score at 2-2 in extra time, a goal widely considered the goal of the tournament.

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This was a match that saw both teams locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

Despite Argentina's rich football history, the team struggled against Cabo Verde, a nation whose main defender was reportedly scouted via LinkedIn. The match raised questions about Argentina's future, particularly concerning the eventual retirement of captain Lionel Messi, who at 39 continues to break records. Messi scored his seventh goal of this tournament, bringing his World Cup tally to 20 goals in 30 matches and extending his record of scoring in eight consecutive World Cup games.

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And a match that gave this World Cup its goal of the tournament, when Sidny Lopes Cabral struck a long-range effort from an acute angle that sailed into the top corner of Emiliano Martínez’s goal to bring Cabo Verde level at 2-2 in extra time, beyond the realm of the believable.

While Messi remains the focal point of Argentina's attack, the team also boasts other talented players like Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. However, after taking the lead, Argentina appeared content to let Cabo Verde control possession, a strategy that allowed Deroy Duarte to score in the 59th minute, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in Argentina's approach.

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For all of Argentina’s vast history and expertise in the sport, a team whose main defender was scouted through LinkedIn asked questions the three-time champions struggled to answer.