Aand we’re heading to penalties in the match between Australia and Egypt. Follow along here. I am currently liveblogging a liveblog. They actually pay me for this:
In my thorough preparation for this liveblog—researching “Who is this Messi guy” and similar queries—I stumbled upon Cape Verde. Now, I yearn for a holiday there. Rest assured, I’m not receiving any compensation from the Cape Verde Tourist Board for this endorsement. On a related note, I’ve heard great things about Argentina as well.
The victor of this matchup will advance to play either Australia or Egypt, who are entangled in the second period of extra time in their respective last-32 clash. You can follow all the developments with our liveblog here:
A thick blanket of oppressive heat has enveloped the eastern US for several days, but conditions in Miami Gardens are actually quite bearable (by local standards). At kickoff, the temperature will reach 30C/86F, which is not ideal but familiar territory for many players on the Cape Verde squad, particularly Pico Lopes, who is accustomed to the sweltering heat of Dublin while playing for Shamrock Rovers. This may not be the case for Lionel Messi, who has spent his recent Julys in, let’s see … Miami!
While Hard Rock/Miami Stadium lacks air conditioning, its design allows it to capture breezes. My experience there was pleasant enough, though I should note that was back in February.
Hello! It’s a fairytale moment as Cape Verde, the smallest nation remaining in the World Cup, takes on the reigning champions, Argentina, led by the greatest player of the modern era. According to Opta’s Very Big And Clever Super Computer, Cape Verde has been given a 10% chance of winning tonight, which may be a tad optimistic?
Should they pull off a victory, it would be a stunning upset akin to Japan defeating South Africa at the (Rugby) World Cup, Leicester’s Premier League triumph, Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, the Miracle on Ice, Cameroon defeating Argentina in the 1986 World Cup, and Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup… Wait, I’m noticing a pattern here.
Tom will join shortly. In the meantime, let’s refer to Graham Ruthven’s daily watch guide for insights on this match:
Key Observations
Argentina has had a strong showing in their World Cup title defense. Messi and his teammates navigated the group stage flawlessly, netting eight goals while conceding only one. Based on their current form, La Albiceleste appears to be a formidable challenge.
Cape Verde has made history at every opportunity this summer. They’ve not only qualified for their inaugural World Cup but now face their first knockout match against the defending champions. The Blue Sharks successfully held off Spain and Uruguay and will aim to replicate that performance against Argentina.
Player to watch: Lionel Messi, Argentina – The GOAT has been in stellar form, scoring six goals in just three matches. Even at the age of 39, Messi remains unparalleled when it comes to influencing a match at the highest level. There’s truly no one like him.
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- Argentina
- Cape Verde
