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Argentina v Cape Verde team news: Starts for Messi, Medina + Molina

3 July 2026 39 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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In the Round of 32’s penultimate match, current World Cup holders Argentina meet the unbeaten underdogs who were Group H runners-up, Cape Verde.

Kick-off in Miami is at 23:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Lionel Messi is back in the lineup, as are names like Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martinez, Julian Alvarez and Nahuel Molina.

Having made nine changes for the Jordan clash, Lionel Scaloni does the same here. Only Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez keep their places.

Meanwhile, their opponents switch five elements of their 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. Steven Moreira, Sidny Cabral, Laros Duarte, Jovane Cabral and Nuno da Costa are replacing Wagner Pina, João Paulo, Jamiro Monteiro, Willy Semedo and Dailon Livramento.

LINE-UPS

Argentina XI: E Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Medina; Mac Allister, Fernández, De Paul; Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Almada

Subs: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Otamendi, Paredes, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Alvarez, N Gonzalez, Simeone, Paz, Lopez

Cape Verde XI: Vozinha; Moreira, Pico, Diney, S Cabral; Mendes, D Duarte, Pina, L Duarte, J Cabral; da Costa

Subs: da Rosa, dos Santos, Stopira, Costa, W Pina, Pires, Joao Paulo, Monteiro, Y Semedo, Arcanjo, Benchimol, Rodrigues, W Semedo, Livramento, Varela

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

39 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 8 Years
    1 hour, 28 mins ago

    Hi guys in a conundrum here. If messi and lisandro get more or equal to 8 then have to sub a 8 pter for munoz or diaz. Or will you bench munoz or diaz for a 8 pter and if you bench which of the 2? Using qualification booster ofc so assuming colombia qualify it's 6+2

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      43 mins ago

      Will play munoz. 50-50 on l diaz

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  2. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    1 hour, 27 mins ago

    What are the odds for Cape Verde to win?

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      43 mins ago

      Probably 1 in 1000 in 90 mins. Or 1 in 100 to qualify

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  3. NZREDS
    • 12 Years
    1 hour, 26 mins ago

    ffs - England game time moved much earlier due to weather concerns. Ideal for the UK, not so much for NZ. Was meant to be going to the pub at lunchtime to watch it!

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    1. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 6 Years
      1 hour ago

      Wonder if Brazil v Norway gets pushed back to avoid the matches overlapping [as well as avoiding the hottest part of the day]

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    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      32 mins ago

      It suits for me from india! 1am here.. perfect. Though i do record the morning matches and watch on replay anyways

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  4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    1 hour, 19 mins ago

    Twist from Mbappe (C) to Messi?
    I didn't consider it before but feels tempting right now

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    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      35 mins ago

      Could haul against CV

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    2. POP KC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      33 mins ago

      Thinking about it, but Mbappe was money

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    3. caz777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      32 mins ago

      I just did it. statistically not the best decision...but my league leader has a slightly too big lead over me, so I need to risk it a bit.

      Btw why did Hany and Shobeir not get scouting points for the australia match? I used the Clean sheet shield booster this round, and both have gotten the CS bonus, but not their scouting one.....any experience in how late points can be added?

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      1. caz777
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        30 mins ago

        btw i know Qual booster is most common, but I decided on 5 low owned def and 1 low owned gk with the CS shield as a punt. succesfully i might add

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      2. SM001
        • 10 Years
        28 mins ago

        A player needs to score 4 points before the scouting bonus kicks in.

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        1. caz777
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          25 mins ago

          yes. and they did for me since I have the clean sheet booster, which gives clean sheet even when conceeding 1 which they did. on my game screen Hany is 5pts and shobeir is 7pts, but no scouting bonus. they should be 7 and 9pts respectively (stupid own goal Hany :D)

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    4. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      29 mins ago

      I'm sticking. He needs 2 goals plus something else. My worry is they take him off if the game is won so he may not get to haul too big, but hey he's Messi, he's in form and it's Vs Cape Verde! Anything could happen.

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  5. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    58 mins ago

    Which one for R16?

    A. Hakimi
    B. Kounde

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    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      54 mins ago

      A. Hakimi all day

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    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      41 mins ago

      Hakimi. Though a French defender also needed probably

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  6. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    37 mins ago

    Cape Verde.. so far they are playing good

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      33 mins ago

      Just 100 more mins of this and cv can win on penalties

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  7. BR510
      31 mins ago

      Martinez Vargas
      Upamecano Llorente Munoz Oreilly ____
      Dembele Vini Yamal ____ _____
      Mbappe Messi Rayan

      1. Mazraoui Olise Brahim
      2. Mazraoui Barcola Saibari
      3. Hakimi Doue Brahim

      And any other transfers, one left?

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      30 mins ago

      There u go.. the legend does it again

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    • JBG
      • 8 Years
      30 mins ago

      Mental how he just keeps on scoring this WC

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        28 mins ago

        7 more to beat fontaine 13 in single wc. Need hattrick today

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      29 mins ago

      Messi has to play in 2030 WC. Maybe even 2034 WC... He is not slowing down

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    • CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      28 mins ago

      Argentina 1-0

      Messl, of course.

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        27 mins ago

        L. Martinez assist

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        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          26 mins ago

          Lisandro not lautaro

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    • PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      28 mins ago

      I have never seen an African play in the Argentine football team ever since I started watching football.

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        23 mins ago

        Huh? Why should they?

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        1. PartyTime
          • 5 Years
          2 mins ago

          Ohh I did a little research & found out it had to do with Argentina's historical policies. It's just crazy. I can hardly name an Argentine footballer with African roots compared to other South American countries especially when we leave Europe out of the picture.

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      2. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        18 mins ago

        The clue is in the name African

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    • PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      26 mins ago

      Win or Lose, Cabo Verde are the best team in the world cup imo

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        17 mins ago

        If no genius messi it will still be 0-0

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      19 mins ago

      Argentina have pretty much easiest path to semis.. cape verde, egypt, switzerland or colombia in qf probably in qf, eng or brazil semis

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        15 mins ago

        Or norway if Haaland keeps firing

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        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          14 mins ago

          Or of course mexico.. n

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      9 mins ago

      This is an excellent performance by cape verde. Only a messi genius moment they conceded.

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      1. Herger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 mins ago

        Tap in. Ronaldo would have 2 by now.

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