Scaloni says Argentina is in good form but warns Cape Verde will be a tough opponent

Lionel Scaloni, coach of Argentina's national football team, expressed confidence in his squad's current form ahead of their decisive World Cup 2026 qualifier against Cape Verde. Speaking at a packed press conference in Miami, Scaloni acknowledged the heightened pressure of the knockout stage, where "the margin shrinks" and "the one who loses goes home." He emphasized that despite their good moment, the match will not be easy.

“

We are well. Logically, we are excited. There is an opponent to face, who has done things well. The margin shrinks. It is a match in which the one who loses goes home and we take that into account. We are in a good moment. But this is football. There are very even and tight matches. It will not be easy. That is the reality.

Scaloni analyzed Cape Verde's performance in the group stage, noting their undefeated record and their ability to defend well and counter-attack effectively. He described them as a "good opponent" who have earned their place in this stage, stating they are not surprising the Argentine team. The coach also addressed the role of star player Lionel Messi, suggesting his participation would depend on various factors and the game's unfolding dynamics, declining to give a definitive answer at that moment.

“

It is a team that has not lost. Against Saudi Arabia, they deserved to win. Against Spain and Uruguay, they suffered a bit more. They defend well, they counter-attack well, they have players with good feet. We are analyzing them, they are a good opponent. They do not surprise us. They are a good team.

Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentine midfielder, also spoke to the press, acknowledging Cape Verde's merits in reaching this stage. He confirmed that the team has studied their opponent extensively and has a clear idea of their strategy. De Paul downplayed the singular importance of the midfield, stressing instead the team's commitment to their established playing style while remaining adaptable to different opponents.

“

We will see. It doesn't make much sense to answer you now if I don't know how the match will be and how he will be. I suppose he will be there. But it depends on several things. We are facing the match in the best possible way. It is very difficult to predict.