Argentina vs Cape Verde became a knockout affair, with the reigning champions winning a dramatic extra-time victory 3-2, to advance to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
Argentina were the favourites for the match but they did not manage to break the deadlock and a spirited Cape Verde side twice levelled the game and sent it into extra time. In the end, the South Americans came out with a win, but they did leave tactical bits that can be improved upon as they move on to the next level.
The match is a demonstration of resilience, head coach Lionel Scaloni said, noting that World Cup knockout football is by no means simple. The clash added another layer to the tournament’s unpredictability and competitive nature, as the narrative of an “easy draw” was shattered.
Attacking efficiency was Argentina’s strong card as they found ways to keep the ball in their own half, but failed to maintain defensive dominance in crucial moments, behind which Cape Verde took advantage to stay in the game. Their pressure response and extra-time performance, though, shows the mental fortitude and pedigree of the squad.
The physical nature of the game was apparent and when the 120 minutes were up, some players were visibly exhausted. But he said the physical strain was showing both in the team and at the bottom of the list: “You can see the strain on everyone wearing the green and gold jersey, you can see cramps all over the team, so this will certainly affect how we prepare the rotation for the round of 16 and how we prepare for their recovery.
