Argentina have turned their focus to the knockout phase and their round-of-32 meeting with Cape Verde, insisting the African debutants will not be an easy obstacle even after talk that their path beyond the early stages could be relatively straightforward.
Key takeaways
- Argentina finished top of Group J after a 3-1 victory over Jordan, following wins over Algeria and Austria.
- They will face Cape Verde in the round of 32 after the island nation held Spain to a 0-0 draw and drew 2-2 with Uruguay.
- Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni warned against underestimating Cape Verde, calling them a strong side.
- Defender Cristian Romero was the only player unavailable for the Jordan match due to an injury picked up against Austria.
- Five Argentina players made their World Cup debuts in the Jordan game, with Giovani Lo Celso scoring a first-half free kick.
Argentina’s group-stage statement sets up Cape Verde test
Argentina’s tournament momentum carried straight into the weekend, as they completed a near-flawless group campaign by beating Jordan 3-1 on Saturday. Earlier in the group phase, they accounted for Algeria 3-0 and Austria 2-0, with Lionel Messi reaching six goals across the competition.
The defending champions now face Cape Verde, who earned their place in the round of 32 with an eye-catching group showing. Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Spain before forcing a 2-2 tie against Uruguay.
Scaloni addressed the prospect of a comfortable route and pushed back on any suggestion that the next opponent would be anything less than demanding. “It’s pointless for me to sit here and say they’re not a tough opponent, because that would be a lie,” he told reporters. “Maybe for many it’s not like that, but I can assure you they are a good team and will make things difficult for us.”
Argentina also learned that, should they advance, their knockout journey would keep them away from a previous world champion until the semi-finals. Despite that draw, the squad echoed Scaloni’s message of caution rather than complacency.
Winger Giuliano Simeone stressed that the team’s preparation will be opponent-agnostic in terms of intensity. “We always focus on ourselves, any opponent is difficult,” he said. “We have to try to do the most damage possible with our best weapons.”
Midfielder Leandro Paredes added that the mood has already shifted after a very positive group stage. “We achieved the first objective, which was to go through, and now we want more. From tomorrow we’ll prepare the match with Cape Verde,” he said.
Training in Kansas City ahead of Miami clash
Argentina returned to training in Kansas City on Monday, before turning attention to the round-of-32 fixture in Miami on July 3.
Scaloni confirmed that Cristian Romero was sidelined for the Jordan game because of the injury he suffered against Austria, with the defender the only player unable to feature.
World Cup debuts and Lo Celso’s breakthrough
The Jordan match also stood out for Argentina’s group of newcomers, with five players making their World Cup debuts: Simeone, Giovani Lo Celso, Valentin Barco, Marcos Senesi and Jose Manuel Lopez.
For Lo Celso, the moment carried extra weight. He had been part of Argentina’s 2018 squad but did not take the field in Russia, and he also played a prominent role in the build-up to their 2022 success. He was forced to miss the tournament in Qatar due to injury.
Against Jordan, Lo Celso made the most of his chance by scoring with a 19th-minute free kick.
“I waited a long time for this moment. I dreamed of it a lot, and it was much more than I could have imagined,” Lo Celso said. “Sooner or later, work pays off. It’s been a long journey, and tonight was more than I dreamed.”
Scaloni singled out the midfielder’s resilience as well, praising his long wait and the way he has remained committed to the group. “He’s been with us from day one, a spectacular boy who missed the last World Cup in a cruel way. We’re happy for him, because he’s important for the group.”
