Lionel Messi Criticizes Argentina's Struggle in Narrow World Cup Win Over Cape Verde

Argentina, the reigning world champions, secured a hard-fought victory against Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup, advancing to the round of 16. The match, played overnight between Friday and Saturday, saw Argentina needing a late goal in extra time to overcome a team considered several levels below them. Despite the win, the Argentine squad faced significant criticism for their lackluster performance.

Captain Lionel Messi openly expressed dissatisfaction with the team's display, acknowledging the difficulty of the match and the resilience of their opponents. Messi noted that although Argentina managed to score the crucial first goal, the team then retreated defensively, losing ball possession and failing to apply effective pressure. He emphasized the importance of set pieces, which Argentina capitalized on to secure the win, highlighting the team's aerial strengths.

Looking ahead, Argentina has little time to recover before facing Egypt, another unbeaten African team, on the upcoming Tuesday. Coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to analyze the team's shortcomings and make necessary adjustments to avoid further struggles in the tournament.

The article also provides an overview of the group standings across the World Cup, showing Argentina leading Group J with nine points and a +7 goal difference. Other notable teams like Morocco, Brazil, and France have also advanced, with Morocco recently reaching the quarterfinals after a 3-0 win over host Canada.