Argentina don reach World Cup 2026 last 16 and dem go face debutants Cape Verde today. Di match go be like fish wey fisherman catch, because Argentina na heavy favourites and dem don already secure top spot for Group J with comfortable wins over Algeria and Austria.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni bin shuffle im pack for di 3-1 win over Jordan, resting captain Lionel Messi and bringing Julian Alvarez up front. E also change things out wide, with Rodrigo De Paul and Thiago Almada replaced by Giovani Lo Celso and Giuliano Simeone. Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister bin get rest, with Nico Paz and Leandro Paredes coming into di side. For back, midfielder Exequiel Palacios bin play out of position at right-back, while Nicolas Otamendi and Marcos Senesi start for heart of defence. Nicolas Tagliafico get run-out at left-back for place of Facundo Medina.
But now, Scaloni don revert to type and go back to im preferred stars for dis match, despite Argentina status as overwhelming favourites. Dat mean ever-present Emiliano Martinez continue for goal, with Nahuel Molina returning at right-back. Medina dey restore for left, with Premier League duo Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez for centre-back. Dey bin get concern over Tottenham captain Romero, wey dem take off against Austria after suffering knee injury and no consider to face Jordan, but e don return to training and dey back here.
Mac Allister and Fernandez go join forces once more for di engine room, and De Paul and Almada remain Scaloni go-to pairing out wide, but e get Nico Gonzalez and Simeone to call upon if e wan shake things up once more. For top, na no-brainer: Messi, but who go partner am? Lautaro Martinez don be preferred to Alvarez for dis tournament, and e likely to start once more after scoring against Jordan.
Argentina XI: E. Martinez, Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Medina, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Almada, Messi, L. Martinez.
