“It would be crazy to lose” – Scaloni relieved after Argentina survived
According to Soccernews.
Context
Lionel Messi, icon of Argentine football, continues to be a key player in the national team, especially with his experience in World Cups. His performance, scoring the first goal of the match, shows his ability to influence decisive games. Argentina, as current champions, has the responsibility to advance far in the 2026 World Cup, and Messi is fundamental in this journey.
Why this matters
Argentina's narrow victory against Cape Verde highlights the unpredictability of the 2026 World Cup, where even lower-rated opponents can cause surprises. Lionel Messi, by scoring his 20th goal in World Cups, reaffirms his importance for the Argentine team, especially in critical moments. The team's performance also serves as a warning for the upcoming challenges in the tournament, where the pressure increases at each stage.
Main conclusions
- “It would be crazy to lose” – Scaloni relieved after Argentina survived.
- Argentina managed a narrow 3-2 win against Cape Verde, and Scaloni expressed relief at avoiding a major World Cup setback.
- Lionel Messi remains central to Argentina's plans.
Argentina faced quite a scare in their round of 32 match against Cape Verde, showing that there are no easy opponents in the World Cup, according to coach Lionel Scaloni. The current world champions were on the verge of suffering one of the biggest surprises in the history of the tournament, when the debutants from Cape Verde managed to draw twice, once in normal time and once in extra time.
The first goal of the match was scored by Lionel Messi, who scored his 20th goal in World Cups, putting Albiceleste ahead. However, Deroy Duarte was undeterred and, with a precise shot, ensured that Cape Verde forced an additional 30 minutes of play. Lisandro Martinez, with a beautiful shot that ended up in the corner of the goal, restored Argentina's advantage, but Sidny Cabral scored what could be considered the most beautiful goal of the tournament so far, with a shot that went into the top right corner, causing a lot of celebration among the fans.
An own goal by Diney Borges ended up sealing the fate of Cape Verde's heroic campaign, but Argentina came away with the lesson that the scare was real. Scaloni, at the end of the match, commented: "The game was very tough, and we always need to take away something positive, which is that this team never gives up. I congratulate the opponents and, when I say that there are no easy opponents, it's really true. We saved ourselves; the blows didn't demotivate us. They gave everything, this is Argentina, we understand that. It would be crazy to lose, but that's how things happen. What are you going to do?".
The coach also highlighted that there is room for improvement and that they will discuss this. He recalled that, on his debut in Qatar, after a defeat to Saudi Arabia, the team kept trying. Scaloni also highlighted that the players' fatigue was caused by the extra time and the heat, but that their dedicationmade them cover the lack of oxygen and, once again, they showed character on the field. "I think we're doing well. What characterizes Argentina is knowing how to suffer and not give up. We need to rest, even though we have less time now, when we should have more."
When asked if he ever doubted that Argentina would advance, Scaloni replied: "I'm always cautious... My experience helps me to be that way. The game was ugly and could have gone the other way, even though we were the ones carrying the weight of the match."
This match was the 12th in Argentina's World Cup history to go to extra time, equaling a record with Germany. Argentina won 10 of the 12 matches that went to extra time, winning four times in extra time and six times on penalties. Messi, who seemed reluctant to celebrate the victory, saw many Argentina players console their Cape Verde opponents. Now, he has found the net seven times in this tournament, becoming the first player to reach that mark in more than one World Cup (also in 2022). Furthermore, he scored in a record streak of eight consecutive matches in the tournament. "12 – Lionel Messi has scored 12 goals in his last 8 World Cup matches: 2022 against Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, France and 2026 against Algeria, Austria, Jordan and Cape Verde. Divine!"
What happens next
With this victory, Argentina advances to the next phase of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face more challenging opponents. Coach Scaloni and his team will need to carefully analyze their performance against Cape Verde to avoid similar mistakes. The expectation is that Messi and his teammates will prepare intensely, looking not only for victory, but also for convincing football to keep alive the hope of winning the title again.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the match between Argentina and Cape Verde?
Argentina faced Cape Verde in a difficult match, where the Argentines managed to win after Cape Verde tied twice, once in normal time and once in extra time.
Who confirmed the game's difficulty?
Coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed the difficulty of the game, stating that there are no easy opponents in the World Cup.
Why did Scaloni say 'it would be crazy to lose'?
Scaloni made this statement after Argentina faced a huge scare against Cape Verde, highlighting that the team never gives up and that the victory was important.
What changes did Scaloni mention after the game?
Scaloni mentioned that there is room for improvement in the team and that they will discuss this after the match.
What was the impact of Diney Borges' own goal?
Diney Borges' own goal sealed the fate of Cape Verde's campaign, resulting in Argentina's victory.
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