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Another effort like this may have the defending World Cup champs home earlier than they expect.
Argentina star Lionel Messi warned his teammates after Friday’s thrilling 3-2 win in extra time against live underdog Cape Verde that they put many “bad” things on tape in the Round of 32.
The defending champions twice blew one-goal leads before tallying the game-winning score in the 111th minute to advance to a Round of 16 clash with Egypt on July 7.
Lionel Messi celebrates after the win. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell“Today, we put in a huge effort, as always, playing well and playing badly, just like we always say,” Messi said, per ESPN. “But I think the important thing now is to rest, think about what’s coming next and try to take positives from today’s game. Beyond just qualifying, I think there are positives because we did some good things, and we also need to correct the bad ones, which I think were many today as well.”
Argentina had yet to play a close game in this tournament before Cape Verde — ranked 64th by FIFA and the smallest nation to ever reach the knockout round — gave them all they could handle Friday night.
Messi started the scoring at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., with his Cup-high seventh goal of the tournament 29th minute, but Cape Verde responded in the 59th minute to change the tenor.
Argentina later took a 2-1 lead in the 92nd minute before another game-tying goal from the African country in the 103rd minute suddenly make penalty kicks seem viable.
The champs eventually had some luck on their side, with an own goal by Diney Borges during a battle after a corner kick finally putting away Cape Verde.
Messi praised his opponent for forcing Argentina into uncomfortable situations.
Lionel Messi and Cape Verde players after the match. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky“We knew it was going to be a very tough match; this team hadn’t lost to Spain and Uruguay for a reason. We did the hardest part, which was finding the first goal,” Messi said, per ESPN. “We thought that from then on, we would start to find our game and be more relaxed, but it was the complete opposite. We lost the ball, we sat back, we couldn’t pressure them well, and they struck with their strengths. We knew it was going to be difficult; this is a knockout tournament, and nobody gives you anything for free.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy at all, and that’s what this World Cup, in particular, is all about. It’s very evenly matched, very complicated, and every game is going to be extremely difficult.”
Argentina still owns the second-best odds to win the tournament behind France, but another effort like Friday’s against a tougher foe could spell trouble.
Manager Lionel Scaloni made it clear his team will be hearing about the negative from this showing.
“There is no easy rival. Congratulations to Cape Verde,” Scaloni said, per ESPN. “I will talk to the players about the negative, but we take away the positive, which is we never let our arms down.”
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