The knockout stage removes all room for error. Argentina know that a front-foot and fearless Cabo Verde team would love to complete the perfect footballing heist. In order to sidestep the banana skin, Lionel Scaloni should be selecting a starting XI that is perfectly mixed with the veteran steel and the electrifying explosiveness.
The undisputed heartbeat of the operation: Lionel Messi
Lets face it, the minute any team Argentina play in this competition every single one of the worlds eyes naturally drift towards just one man: Lionel Messi. At this stage of the GOAT’s legendary career, every single game is now loaded with history, making it an essential appointment in every Football calendar.
Messi will be expected to do more than just captain the side. He's also tasked with directing every attacking manoeuvre in order to exploit any pockets that appear in the Cab verde low block, feeding those beautiful one-two passes to his team. And given the chance to have just one sniff of goal with a ball to his foot around the 18 yard line, this could end very quickly.
Argentina’s expected starting XI
Here is how the reigning world champions are expected to line up and dictate the pace of play against their opponents:
- Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez
- Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina
- Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Thiago Almada
- Forwards: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez
The tactical analysis: Almada provides spark
The key shift to the Argentinian midfield could be the introduction of Thiago Almada into the fray. With an experienced, world class midfield unit of Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, and the hyperactive Rodrigo De Paul marshalling the centre of the park, Almada has the freedom to run rampant with the ball and utilize his searing pace to carry the ball.
This can drag Cabo Verde out of shape and give Leo Messi that much needed yard to work his magic, forcing the opposition to leave gaps at the back which he and Lautaro Martinez will happily expose.
- Defensive Fortress: Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez form one of the most aggressive and imposing centre back pairing in the competition, designed to shut out any attacks and make life incredibly difficult for opposition forwards.
- Wing Width: The return of Facundo Medina to the defence will free up Nahuel Molina to bomb up and down the pitch and offer the width to stretch Cabo Verde across the pitch, providing some brilliant overlapping play.
Cabo Verde will no doubt feel as if they can threaten Argentina’s defence on the counter-attack but their midfield is well equipped to handle them, and with Lionel Messi pulling the strings from his more withdrawn role, the World Champions will hold all the cards in this encounter.
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