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Lionel Scaloni has defended Argentina’s attacking depth ahead of their World Cup knockout opener against surprise package Cape Verde in Miami. The Argentina head coach expressed no concern about the team’s heavy dependence on their legendary captain, even though the veteran forward scored six goals during the group stage.

Argentina begin their knockout journey

The Albiceleste will put their flawless record to the test this Friday when they take on debutants Cape Verde in an intriguing round-of-32 encounter in humid Miami. Scaloni’s talented squad comfortably topped Group J with three straight wins, finishing their group campaign with a 3-1 victory over Jordan in Dallas. Although their African opponents advanced after three consecutive draws, the reigning world champions remain cautious as the competition now shifts into a knockout format where every mistake could be fatal.

Scaloni dismisses talk of over-dependence on Messi

Speaking to the press in Fort Lauderdale, Scaloni addressed questions about his team’s defensive strength and the notion that Argentina rely too much on Messi’s scoring prowess. The coach firmly backed his system, pointing out that while he would like to see goals coming from different players, the team’s overall success and unity take precedence as they enter the unforgiving knockout rounds.

Scaloni said, “We are doing well and as motivated as everyone else. There is an opponent to respect; they have played very well, and the margin for error is getting smaller. Whoever loses goes home. We are aware of that, but the team is in a good place. This is football, and games are often evenly matched. Apart from France or Mexico, who won comfortably, most matches have been closely fought. It will not be easy — that is the truth.

“With us, Messi has played under many different circumstances, so I expect him to feature. It depends on the match and on him. It’s difficult to predict what will happen. Other players have also had chances, but Leo, being one of our forwards, scored the goals. It’s not something that worries us. Of course, I’d like goals to be spread out across the team, but as long as we play well and win, that’s what matters.”

Favourites take on determined underdogs

The South American giants must find a way to break down a disciplined Cape Verde defence that managed to frustrate both Spain and Saudi Arabia in the group stage. Facing a debutant side that has yet to lose a game in this tournament, Scaloni used his media interaction to analyse the strengths and counter-attacking threat posed by the African side.

He added, “Cape Verde are a team that haven’t been beaten. They even deserved to beat Saudi Arabia. Against Spain and Uruguay they struggled a bit more, but they defended very well. They block central passing lanes effectively and are extremely dangerous on the counter. They have technically skilled players. They are a strong team — as we’ve already seen. They’ve earned their place here, and that doesn’t surprise us. They’re not here by chance; we respect them and will approach them accordingly.”

Endurance will be key

Argentina step into the knockout stage aware that their trademark resilience will face its toughest test yet. Seven of their last 13 World Cup knockout matches have gone to extra time, so physical stamina in the demanding Florida heat could be a decisive factor. The world champions will need patience and discipline to overcome a compact Cape Verde defence and avoid the uncertainty of a penalty shootout.