Argentina v Cape Verde Islands · OurXI

★ The storyline

Argentina march on

Argentina are through. They saw off Cape Verde Islands 3–2 in the round of 32, and a family that's followed them all summer dares to look a little further up the bracket. On to the last 16.

WildcardDeveloping

Cape Verde Islands bow out

And there it ends. Cape Verde Islands fall to Argentina 3–2 in the round of 32, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

WildcardDeveloping

Cape Verde Islands bow out

And there it ends. Cape Verde Islands fall to Argentina, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

WildcardDeveloping

Argentina win it in extra time

All square after ninety, and still nobody blinked — until Argentina struck in the 92nd minute against Cape Verde Islands in the round of 32. Extra time does strange things to legs and nerves; theirs held. Heartbreak one end, bedlam the other.

TalismanDeveloping

Champions Meet the Newcomers

Argentina's maiden World Cup clash with Cape Verde offers the defending champions a chance to assert dominance in the knockout stages at Miami. The island nation arrives at their maiden World Cup finals as a historic underdog, joining an unlikely group of debutants who've faced the reigning champions in do-or-die football. For Argentina, it's the kind of fixture that demands ruthlessness; for Cape Verde, just getting here is already the stuff of dreams.

Lionel Messi

Source: Opta Analyst

Why it matters

Ours are out — Argentina in the round of 32. Win or go home.

Who to watch

★ Ours · Talisman

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Still the gravitational centre of this side, the man around whom every Argentine hope orbits.

★ Emerging star

Dailon Livramento

Cape Verde Islands

The man to watch — the spark expected to carry Cape Verde's attacking threat on the biggest stage.

Developing

Cape Verde Islands are through to the last 32

Cape Verde Islands are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

Argentina are through to the last 32

Argentina are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

Argentina bow out

And there it ends. Argentina fall to Spain, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

Developing

Argentina bow out

And there it ends. Argentina fall to Spain 1–0 in the final, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.