Cape Verde Eliminated from World Cup in Round of 16, Argentina Coach Praises Strong Opponent

2026 World Cup Key News

(CNA Miami, July 4, Global News) Cape Verde showed tenacious fighting spirit in the World Cup Round of 16 today, equalizing twice and pushing Argentina to extra time, nearly forcing a penalty shootout. They were ultimately eliminated with a 2-3 loss due to an own goal. The Argentina coach praised the opponent's strength after the match.

According to AFP and Reuters, Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni stated that losing to Cape Verde would have been "absolutely crazy."

This was Scaloni's 100th match coaching the "Albiceleste." He said, "It was a tough match, but we have to look at the positives, at least our team never gives up."

He emphasized, "I congratulate the opponent. They showed great strength today and proved they are a formidable team. When people say there are no easy games in the World Cup, it's true."

"The Blue Sharks" of Cape Verde, making their first appearance in the World Cup finals, have been a major dark horse, drawing against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. They are the only one of the four new World Cup teams to reach the Round of 16.

Although the Blue Sharks lost today, they were not completely outplayed by the three-time World Cup champions Argentina, once again demonstrating their team cohesion and strong will. This small African nation has a population of only about 500,000, approximately 1% of Argentina's.

Cape Verde's head coach Bubista said, "I am proud of my team and their efforts."

Bubista added, "We must be proud of everything we have done for our country. To be able to compete with the World Cup champions and equalize twice is incredible."

He also said, "This World Cup has proven that our efforts are commendable and demonstrated our resilience. Although the loss is regrettable, it has still been a valuable experience." (Compiled by Lu Ying-tzu) 1150704

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