
27 June 2026
Cape Verde David Eyes Argentina Goliath in the Last 32
Cape Verde have sealed a fairytale debut at the World Cup and now face the daunting task of meeting Messi's Argentina in the knockout round.
Cape Verde's first ever World Cup has already become one of the tournaments great underdog stories, and according to Sky Sports it is far from over. A 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in their final group game was enough to confirm second place in Group H, sending the Blue Sharks through to the round of 32 in their maiden appearance on the global stage.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, finish bottom of the group and are heading home. Cape Verde's players and supporters celebrated wildly at full-time, well aware that history was being made with every passing minute.
The reward for this extraordinary achievement is a meeting with Argentina and the record-breaking Messi. Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville, speaking to Sky Sports, captured the mood perfectly, saying football is unpredictable and that is precisely why we love it.
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