MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Argentina arrive at Hard Rock Stadium as defending World Cup champion, with Lionel Messi still central to a squad built around experience, history and star power. Cape Verde arrive with none of that weight, and with no burden of expectation in the round of 32.
The matchup is an extreme contrast: Argentina have the titles and Messi, while Cape Verde have reached this stage as one of the tournament’s longest shots. Stopira, a Cape Verde backup defender, put the team’s mood plainly: “I believe we can do a great thing here. And this is no exception. This match is no exception.”
When the tournament draw was made, the Argentines expected Spain or Uruguay to be waiting in this round. Rodrigo de Paul noted that Argentina’s possible opponent came from a group featuring “two world champions.” Spain advanced, Uruguay did not, and Cape Verde took the place opposite Argentina.
Cape Verde’s run has included a draw against Spain and a story that has stretched beyond the field, including a 40-year-old goalkeeper and the effort to help his mother get to watch part of the group stage. The team has not won a match at this World Cup, but it reached the round of 32 without losing.
Bubista called it “the most important match in our history” and said Cape Verde want to show the quality in Cape Verdean football. His team plans to be aggressive on set pieces, keep as much possession as it can and rely on a defense that has already kept Spain scoreless.
Lionel Scaloni made clear Argentina are treating Cape Verde as a legitimate opponent. “We are not surprised, to be honest,” Scaloni said. “They are a good team. And they are not here by chance. We must respect them. And that’s what we will do.”
Cape Verde also know the challenge is not limited to Messi, even if the 5-foot-7 forward remains the headline figure. “We have our own strategy, not only against Messi, but the whole team,” Bubista said. “We know they are the current world champions, one of the best teams in the tournament. And we will play against the whole team, not just Messi.”