Argentina vs Cape Verde Prediction & Tips
This is the defending champions against a nation playing in their very first World Cup. Argentina won all three group games — beating Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0 and Jordan 3-1 — with Lionel Messi scoring six of their eight goals and becoming the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup appearances. At 39, this is almost certainly his last tournament. He is also the first man to play at six World Cups, and every match from here carries the weight of what could be a farewell.
Cape Verde’s story is the fairy tale of this group stage. Rui Aguas’ side went unbeaten in Group H — holding Spain to a 0-0 draw, drawing 2-2 with Uruguay, and keeping out Saudi Arabia — to become the first debuting nation to reach the World Cup knockouts since Slovakia in 2010, and the first African side to do so since Ghana in 2006. Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40 years old, went from 40,000 Instagram followers to 17.5 million after his seven-save performance against Spain. The Blue Sharks are the lowest-ranked side in the knockout stage and the lowest scorers — just two goals in three games — but their defensive organisation has been anything but lucky.
OVER 2.5 GOALS @ 1.67
