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| Messi (number 10) is playing brilliantly at the 2026 World Cup . Photo: Nhandan.vn |
This is a classic battle between a giant and a tiny underdog. On one side is a lineup of top-tier superstars, boasting the world's most outstanding name – Lionel Messi . On the other is a team of virtually unknown players, whose identities were largely unknown before the tournament began. Of the 48 teams participating in the World Cup, the three teams considered the strongest contenders for the title are France, Spain, and Argentina. They are the reigning world champions, runners-up, and European champions, respectively.
After the round of 32, France and Spain demonstrated their strength with comprehensive victories: France against Sweden and Spain against Austria. While the French team, led by Mbappé, is like a whirlwind sweeping away all obstacles in its path, Spain is playing well in each match with the chemistry of stars like Yamal, Oyarzabal, and Pedri... These two giants easily advanced through the round of 32.
The remaining strong contender, Argentina, is also expected to easily advance through the round of 32, as their opponent is only a newly promoted team, Cape Verde.
The newcomers from Africa have shown courage in their matches, drawing all three games, most notably a 0-0 draw against Spain. In fact, Cape Verde's playing style isn't anything new; coach Bubista instructs his players to play deep with a large number of players in front of the penalty area to provide cover for each other. Of course, to create an effective defensive wall, the Cape Verde players must be very disciplined and have enough stamina to withstand the opponent's attacks.
The most talked-about player for Cape Verde is goalkeeper Vozinha, with his incredible reflexes to save goals for his team. Vozinha also became a social media phenomenon when he played brilliantly, along with the story of how he lacked the money to invite his mother to America to watch him play.
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| Cape Verde had a memorable journey at the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Nhandan.vn |
But Cape Verde's opponent is the reigning world champion Argentina, with a football genius like Messi and top-class players such as Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, and Mac Allister. It's an all-powerful and unpredictable team, as their stars can shine at any moment and create goals.
It's difficult to make a direct comparison of the strengths of these two teams. However, it's safe to say that the match will be one-sided, with Argentina controlling possession and attacking proactively, while Cape Verde will play a defensive game with a large number of players.
The question is, how will Messi and his teammates decipher the Cape Verde phenomenon? In reality, Argentina's playing style is completely different from Spain's rhythmic, one-two passing game. They can deploy various attacking strategies from the flanks, directly, with long balls, or through group combinations, depending on the situation on the field. They also have players with excellent long-range shooting abilities, such as Messi, Enzo Fernandez, and Allister. Importantly, Argentina's players are not only technically gifted but also very cunning. Therefore, against a Cape Verde team that is full of determination but still lacks experience, Argentina will know how to score and win.
Interestingly, many Cape Verde players have shared that facing Messi was just a dream. Now, that dream has come true on the world's biggest stage. Regardless of the outcome against the reigning champions, the boys from the small island nation of Cape Verde deserve to be considered heroes in the hearts of their people back home.
Source: https://huengaynay.vn/the-thao/bong-da/giai-ma-cape-verde-167323.html
