Even as world champion, Argentina no dey take any match as easy. Rodrigo De Paul don warn im teammates make dem no get big head as World Cup knockout dey hot up.
Argentina enter match as heavy favourite after dem tear Group J, beat Algeria, Austria and Jordan with eight goals and only one conceed. Lionel Messi don dey fire, score six goals for three matches.
But tournament don show say nobody safe. Heavyweights like Germany and Netherlands don already pack and go home after penalty shock from Paraguay and Morocco.
De Paul wey rest for Sunday 3-1 win over Jordan, dey make sure younger players stay grounded. ‘E go be mistake to think pass Friday game,’ De Paul tok. ‘Tomorrow match na the last one—that how I dey see am. And I go do everything to make sure e no be the last one.’
For Inter Miami midfielder, mindset na survival and respect for jersey. ‘We tell young players say every time we wear this jersey, e fit be the last time, and e dey for us to make sure e no be so,’ De Paul add. ‘We no go hold anything back, no matter the competition or opponent.’
De Paul wey fans call ‘Messi bodyguard’ because of how e dey protect captain for pitch, also tell reporters say fans suppose cherish every Messi appearance instead of count down im games. At 39, Messi fit dey play im last World Cup for Argentina colours, but De Paul no gree say team suppose dey prepare for life after Messi.
‘For me, the main thing na to enjoy Leo Messi every single day, just as every Argentinian citizen,’ De Paul yarn. ‘Of course, we always value those things more than what we no get again. That part of life. But we all dey enjoy to have am around.’
De Paul wey join Messi for Inter Miami from Atletico Madrid for 2025, also tok about im friendship with captain. ‘E mean a lot to be good friend of Lionel Messi. Friendship na one of the most important things wey we all get,’ De Paul say. ‘I consider myself very lucky man. For dey there, share moments with am on and off pitch. And that make me really proud.’
De Paul admit say Argentina expect to face European champion Spain or Uruguay for knockout round, but instead dem meet Cape Verde wey surprise many by advancing from Group H as second. ‘When draw announce, we realise say we fit face former World Cup winner, national teams with major players wey dey big leagues,’ De Paul tok. But e warn against underestimating African opponent, and coach Lionel Scaloni echo same.
‘We dey face team wey play well during group stages, dem play well against their opponents,’ e yarn. ‘I think say we need to be very responsible for tomorrow game because e be very important match for us.’
De Paul wey don play under Scaloni for nearly eight years, reflect on importance of experience for knockout football but also acknowledge say emotions go run high no matter past tournaments. ‘Of course, we don play these knockout matches before, but every game different,’ e say. ‘Those feelings, those emotions always very strong and powerful. You never know wetin impact dem fit get. With experience, you know how to manage dem. But at end of day, dem be emotions, and you need to respect dem.’
