Argentina concluded the group stage with three straight wins, scoring eight goals and conceding just one. Lionel Messi and his teammates began their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria. They continued by overcoming Austria 2-0 before defeating Jordan 3-1 in the final match, even with significant squad rotation.

Argentina's strength lies in its stability in both attack and defense. Messi remains central in crucial moments, while options like Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Giovani Lo Celso, and Nico Paz provide significant squad depth. Beyond a versatile attack, Argentina's defensive system operates effectively, maintaining strong team structure, midfield control, and focus at key times.

Conversely, Cape Verde presents one of the most compelling stories at World Cup 2026. The African representatives, making their debut at the biggest football event, remarkably secured progression as second in Group H. Cape Verde did not win any matches, but three draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia were enough for them to make history. Notably, Cape Verde kept two clean sheets in three group stage matches, including a valiant 0-0 draw against Spain.

Cape Verde will likely adopt a deep defensive strategy, prioritizing numerical strength in defense and waiting for counter-attacking opportunities against Argentina.

Vy Anh