Key events
23 min: A lovely sweeping ball nearly finds Jovane Cabral in acres of space on the wing but he can’t control it.
21 min: Medina’s cross is so good it even confuses his teammates. Or maybe it was just bad. Cape Verde clear.
18 min: … pah! You don’t beat Vozinha with that kind of shot. Messi’s free-kick gets past the wall but the Cape Verde keeper smothers it nicely. Short afterwards he skips out his goal to take the ball as Messi closes in.
17 min: Cabral puts in a hard challenge on Messi. I thought it was firm but fair but a free-kick is given to Argentina on the edge of the area …
16 min: Chance of the match so far! Messi takes the ball off a teammate and drifts a shot across goal. “Never before has a Goliath been so diminutive,” cackles Doug Wilkinson on email.
Messi shoots wide. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 18.19 EDT
13 min: Kevin Pina deals well with a pass into the Cape Verde area. They look pretty comfortable so far in defence. Argentina must be wishing they had someone who could produce a moment of breathtaking magic that can change a game in an instant.
10 min: The better side at the moment are … Cape Verde? They are really well organised and have made a few prods into the Argentinian half.
Mac Millings email in with some lovely stuff:
“A couple of weeks ago, MBM legend Simon McMahon requested a Surprise Package XI, and what better time than a Cape-Verde-in-the-knockouts to select it?
Ed de Goey Saw That Coming?
Fluke Shaw
Congratulasean Dyche
Tim Dream
Tahith Punchong above their weight
Giant Killars Elstrup
Marc Overmarchiever
Cinderella Toone
Dark Horst Hrubesch
Deniz Undavdog
Unexpecteddy Sheringham
Manager: Shock Stein
8 min: Mendes tricks his way into the box. His shot is deflected and trickles to Emi Martinez in goal, but it’s positive stuff from the underdogs.
Cape Verde’s Jovane Cabral is tracked by Cristian Romero. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 18.14 EDT
7 min: Cape Verde aren’t messing around here and spend a minute or so buzzing around the Argentina box. Looks like they’re not going to sit back for the entire evening. A reminder they drew with Spain in their opener. Yeah, that Spain.
5 min: Nahuel Molina writhes around for a bit on the edge of the area after Jovane Cabral puts an arm across his face. Drew Fischer waves play on.
3 min: Justin Kavanagh writes in: “One last chance to watch probably the world’s most popular footballer. And to see if Messi can score against him.” Speak of the devil: Vozinha has his first touch with a clearance.
1 min: Argentina are in their famous sky blue and white, Cape Verde are in their getting-famous dark blue. Cape Verde coach Bubista in a zingy open-necked shirt.
And we’re off. And so is Peter Oh. “Some people probably assume that Messi has a house bigger than Cape Verde but the tiny island country has hope,” he writes. “Speaking of which, has anyone sung about hope more eloquently than the late legendary Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Évora?”
Come for the football, stay for the morna.
Plenty of excited fans in the stadium tonight: imagine going to Hard Rock and being spared the indignity of watching the Dolphins. Anyway, the players are out. It’s 89F/32C at kickoff and there may be rain on the way. Not the nice cooling kind either.
The scene is set in Miami. Photograph: Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 18.01 EDT
Mac Millings has seen Cape Verde in the flesh and doesn’t think this game is a done deal. “I was fortunate enough to be at the Cabo Verde-Spain game, and it was no fluke result. Cabo Verde kept them at arms length for most of the 90+ minutes, and could have nicked it at the end. You don’t qualify for the World Cup out of Africa by chance, and Argentina underestimate the Blue Sharks at their peril,” he says.
The stadium is packed with Argentinian fans, who outnumber the Cape Verdeans by several degrees. Perhaps not surprising given that Argentina has 48 million people and Cape Verde has 500,000. The lightning looks like it has held off though, so we should start on time.
Some entertainment while we wait for kick-off. Picture editor and the Guardian’s ninth-best surfer, Jonny Weeks, has produced a wonderful gallery comparing the US hosting the World Cup in 1994 to 2026. From the hairstyles to the stadiums, the kits to the celebrations, we take a look at the changing face of the game (and some fun fading images):
Sam MB writes in: “Looking forward to an interesting a defensive game, but perhaps one which features bursts of speed and a mildly amused Messi being roughed up by defenders. Truly though… Wouldn’t it restore faith in the world if the islanders triumphed? And I don’t mean England. Let’s go Sharks (do do do doot do do)!” And now I have Baby Shark in my head. Thanks Sam.
With all the caveats about every team being dangerous at the World Cup, the draw is opening up nicely for Argentina. Their path to the semi-final will potentially be Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland/Colombia. They also can’t play Spain or France until the final.
From the coaches.
Lionel Scaloni on Cape Verde:
“They’re a good team. We’ve already watched them, not just because we are playing against them, but because we were analysing potential opponents and then they qualified. We are not surprised, to be honest. They are a good team, and they are not here by chance. We must respect them and that’s what we will do.”
Bubista on his team:
“Since we arrived, we have trusted in our own way of working and in what we have done. If others did not respect us, that was their issue. We trust our work.”
Our man on the ground, Pablo Maurer, says there have been lightning strikes around the stadium. That means the start could well be delayed until the weather clears.
Updated at 17.27 EDT
Mikel John Obi and Peter Schmeichel are on Fox to give their verdicts on how Cape Verde can beat Argentina, which basically boil down to “no chance” and “impossible”. But! They agree the Blue Sharks’ team unity is a big advantage.
Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha enters the pitch. Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 17.45 EDT
Paul Wareham emails in to confirm Cape Verde is a lovely place to go on holiday and it does have a desert, to go along other great island deserts like Corsica’s Agriates and England’s Coventry. He also sent a charming photo of what appears to be a sand angel he made in the desert.
ShareTeam news
Lionel Messi will play in his 30th World Cup match tonight, extending his record for the most by a men’s player in their career. He’ll be joined by Lautaro Martinez in attack, while Julian Alvarez drops to the bench.
For Cape Verde, Cape Verde midfielder Telmo Arcanjo, who was struggling with a leg injury, starts on the bench. Sidny Lopes Cabral returns from suspension to start at left-back.
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi (captain), Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martinez. Subs: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Paredes, Barco, Alvarez, Lo Celso, Palacios, Gonzalez, Simeone, Paz, Otamendi, Lopez.
Cape Verde: Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Ryan Mendes (captain), Nuno da Costa. Subs: Rosa, dos Santos, Stopira, Costa, Joao Paulo, Benchimol, Monteiro, Rodrigues, Yannick Semedo, Willy Semedo, Arcanjo, Livramento, Pina, Pires, Varela.
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)
Lionel Messi leads out his team for the warm-up. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 17.48 EDT
Pablo Maurer is at the match for us tonight and reminds us that this is almost a home game for Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi. Like he needs the help:
A few teams that have lost more games at this World Cup than Cape Verde: Germany, Sweden, Japan, Uruguay, Norway, Croatia.
Now, admittedly, Cape Verde haven’t won any games either. But they’ve drawn against Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and Spain, the latter of whom I’m told are half decent. How do they win today. Hold on for long enough that Argentina start to doubt themselves and tire in the heat and then nick it on penalties thanks to Vozinha heroics would be the most obvious tactic. It’s hard to tell exactly how good Argentina are as they’re yet to be really tested this tournament. If they do get beaten what are we calling it? The Miracle in Miami? Sharks Tank Champs? Ummmm…
The winner of this match will play Egypt, who just beat Australia on penalties. The Socceroos elected to have TWO central defenders take their penalties, one of who is 18, which was a choice. That’s the first time Egypt have advanced from a knockout match. Reaction here with Scott Murray:
Aand we’re going to penalties in Australia v Egypt. Follow along here. I am now liveblogging a liveblog. They actually pay me for this:
ShareCape Verde! It has mountains! Photograph: photography by Ulrich Hollmann/Getty ImagesAnd a desert? Or maybe just some nice dunes. Photograph: Borges Samuel/Alamy
During my exhaustive research for this liveblog – googling “Who is this Messi guy” and the like – I had a look at Cape Verde. I now want to go on holiday there. I am not taking money from the Cape Verde Tourist Board for this. For the sake of balance, I hear Argentina is great too.
The winners of this match will play either Australia or Egypt, who are currently in the second period of extra time in their last 32 match. You can follow all the action with our liveblog here:
Weather watch
A big blanket of filthy heat has squatted over the east coast of the US for the last few days, but it’s actually not too bad in Miami Gardens (by Miami Gardens standards). It will be 30C/86F at kick off, not ideal but not unfamiliar conditions for a lot of the Cape Verde squad, especially Pico Lopes, who is used to playing in the scalding heat of the Dublin suburbs for Shamrock Rovers. And possibly not for Lionel Messi who has spent his last few Julys playing in, let’s see … Miami!
Although Hard Rock/Miami Stadium doesn’t have AC it is designed to capture breezes. It was certainly pleasant enough the one time I’ve been there. Although, granted, that was in February.
SharePreamble
Hello! It’s fairytale time as Cape Verde, the smallest nation left in the World Cup, are playing the world champions, Argentina, led by the greatest player of the modern era. According to Opta’s Very Big And Clever Super Computer the Cape Verdeans have a 10% chance of winning tonight, which seems a little generous?
Anyway, if they do win it would be a sporting shock along the lines of Japan beating South Africa at the (Rugby) World Cup, Leicester winning the Premier League, Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, the Miracle on Ice, Cameroon beating Argentina at the 1990 World Cup, Saudi Arabia beating Argentina at the 2022 World Cu… Hang on, I’m seeing a trend here.
Updated at 16.46 EDT
Tom will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a look at this match from Graham Ruthven’s daily watch guide:
What to watch for
So far, so good for Argentina in their World Cup defence. Messi and his team maintained a perfect record through the group stage, scoring eight goals and conceding just one in the process. On the basis of what they have shown so far, La Albiceleste will take some stopping. Their game is functioning well.
Cape Verde have made history at every turn this summer. Not just content with qualifying for their first World Cup, the Blue Sharks will now play their first World Cup knockout match against the defending champions. Cape Verde kept Spain and Uruguay at arm’s length and will aim to do the same against Argentina.
Player to watch: Lionel Messi, Argentina – The Goat has been in top form so far, scoring six goals in just three games. Even at 39, Messi is unmatched when it comes to deciding a match at the elite level. There’s no one like him.