Argentina vs Cape Verde Islands Predictions

• Argentina have won all of their last eight games
• Lionel Messi has scored six goals in three World Cup games
• Cape Verde conceded 51 efforts on goal in three group stage matches

Magical Messi can lead Argentina to success

Defending champions Argentina cruised through the group stage of the World Cup as Austria, Jordan and Algeria were all beaten comfortably.

Lionel Scaloni’s men topped the section by taking nine points, scoring eight goals and conceding just one and Argentina have to rate as serious contenders to retain their title. 

It can be argued that Scaloni’s men will face tougher tests in the knockout stages of the competition, and that may well be the case in the semi-final or final, but the draw has been seriously kind to La Albiceleste.

A last-32 tie with Cape Verde, who started the knockout rounds as the 1,000-1 outsiders to win the World Cup, couldn’t have been picked any better and then it’s a contest with either Australia or Egypt for a place in the quarter-finals. 

Of course, England or Brazil could await at the last-four stage, but there are no guarantees those strong nations will make it, and a clash with Colombia is the most difficult task Argentina could face before the Atlanta semi-finals. 

Scaloni’s men started the knockout rounds as 4-1 chances to win the World Cup and this is a draw that the Selection are unlikely to let pass by. 

Star man still shining

There was a concern as to how much their brightest star Lionel Messi had left to offer on the world stage, but the 38-year-old answered those questions by scoring six goals in the group stage of the competition. 

Messi ended the first phase of the World Cup as the favourite to win the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, and with solid and talented players in other areas, the former Barcelona forward has the licence to work his magic. 

Blue Sharks in deep water

Cape Verde performed with a huge amount of credit to pick up draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in the group stage, but the Blue Sharks did concede 27 efforts on goal in their 0-0 draw with La Roja. 

Bubista’s men allowed an expected goals tally of 2.32 in the 2-2 draw with a dysfunctional Uruguay side and Saudi Arabia are an extremely poor side. 

Backing Messi to score, in a match Argentina are likely to win easily, rates as a rock-solid play.