World Cup: Argentina survives scare against Cape Verde, wins 3-2 in extra time

Defending champions Argentina survived a major scare on Friday, edging out World Cup surprise package Cape Verde 3-2 in a thrilling extra-time encounter. Lionel Messi, the talismanic captain, once again proved decisive, scoring his 20th World Cup goal and later providing the assist for the game-winner. However, the match highlighted Argentina's continued over-reliance on their star player.

Messi opened the scoring early in the match, but Cape Verde fought back fiercely, equalizing just before the hour mark through Deroy Duarte. The game remained tense, with Argentina struggling to assert dominance despite Messi's efforts to create openings. The winning goal came in the 111th minute, a deflected header from Cristian Romero following a pinpoint delivery from Messi, coupled with an own goal from the opponent.

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Besides advancing, I think there are indeed some good things, but at the same time, there are many mistakes that need to be corrected.

Post-match, Messi acknowledged the team's significant effort but admitted there were areas needing improvement. "There are indeed some good things, but at the same time, there are many mistakes that need to be corrected," he stated. He praised Cape Verde's performance, noting their ability to trouble Argentina and capitalize on counter-attacks, recognizing that "nobody gives you victory for free."

Coach Lionel Scaloni indicated that team issues would be discussed internally rather than in the media. The victory extended Argentina's winning streak to 11 games, but the performance raised questions about the team's ability to succeed without Messi consistently carrying the load. The match underscored the increasing competitiveness of the World Cup, where even lower-ranked teams can pose significant challenges to established powerhouses.

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They have their reasons for not losing to Spain and Uruguay. We did the hardest thing, which was to score first. We thought we could control the game's rhythm better afterwards, but it was the opposite. We lost possession and couldn't effectively pressure the opponent. They used their advantages to counter-attack. We knew this game wouldn't be easy; that's how knockout stages are; nobody gives you victory for free.