Dugout Discussion

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

3 July 2026 151 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.

151 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 28 days 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
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Will play munoz. 50-50 on l diaz

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  2. Travel Notes
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    What are the odds for Cape Verde to win?

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

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

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  3. NZREDS
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 28 days 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 month, 28 days 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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      1. Sheffield Wednesday
        • 6 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        England-Mexico kick-off unchanged after Fifa U-turn
        https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvgmz3jyq9qo

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    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days 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 month, 28 days ago

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

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    1. NZREDS
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Could haul against CV

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    2. POP KC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Thinking about it, but Mbappe was money

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    3. caz777
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 28 days 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
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 28 days 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
        1 month, 28 days ago

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

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        1. caz777
          • 3 Years
          1 month, 28 days 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
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 28 days 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
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Which one for R16?

    A. Hakimi
    B. Kounde

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    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      A. Hakimi all day

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    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Hakimi. Though a French defender also needed probably

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  6. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Cape Verde.. so far they are playing good

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

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

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  7. BR510
    1 month, 28 days 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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  8. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    There u go.. the legend does it again

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  9. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Mental how he just keeps on scoring this WC

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

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

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  10. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

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

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  11. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Argentina 1-0

    Messl, of course.

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      L. Martinez assist

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Lisandro not lautaro

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  12. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days 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
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Huh? Why should they?

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      1. PartyTime
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 28 days 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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        1. SM001
          • 10 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          BedTime for PartyTime.

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    2. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      The clue is in the name African

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    3. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      It is weird...to say it nicely.

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  13. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

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

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      If no genius messi it will still be 0-0

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      1. PartyTime
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Lol. I think Ronaldo fans can hardly disagree at this point.

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        1. Herger
          • 4 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          We can

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  14. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days 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
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Or norway if Haaland keeps firing

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Or of course mexico.. n

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  15. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

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

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    1. Herger
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Tap in. Ronaldo would have 2 by now.

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      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Really? He only gets penalties lol. More of a hinderance to the team.

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        1. Herger
          • 4 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Agreed. That’s why we call him Pessi

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      2. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        That was not a tap in. Excellent control and finish

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  16. Admiral Benson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    England vs Mexico KO time to remain unchanged (Ben Jacobs)

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    1. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Who is going to win this one???

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  17. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Who will ARG play if they go through?

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Egypt. But 1-1!

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      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Yep...anything can happen!

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  18. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    YESSSSSS

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  19. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Wow! Wow! Wow!

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  20. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Cape Verde equalize.

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Duarte goal, Mendes assist

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    2. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Come onnnnnn best team in the world cup

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      1. Herger
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Germany for me

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  21. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    I screamer I screamed I screamed Come on Cabo Verde! What a team! Absolute delight

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      And they are from African origin! But in small islands off africa

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      1. PartyTime
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        I see their beautiful ladies know how to party too. It's time to explore this African Island

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        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Haha.. would love to go there.. bit from india where i am..

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          1. PartyTime
            • 5 Years
            1 month, 28 days ago

            Haha... 😆

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  22. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Glad i have only 1 arg defender

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  23. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    VoZiNhA you beauty! What a goalie

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  24. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Wow vozinha! Who cares if he is 40? Surely a premier league team buys him!

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    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      😆 hahahahaha he is too good I swear

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    2. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I hope so. He is very good!

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  25. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Its 5am i. India.. but i cannot sleep!

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  26. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    I was counting the seconds for my 2 Argy CS points to click in for a massive rank jump

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  27. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Who says you can't defeat the mighty Argentina?!

    Come on Cabo verde!!! Grab the winner.

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      That would be biggest upset in football history!

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  28. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Tell u what.. outside messi don't look great.

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      *outside messi, argentina don't look great

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      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        ARG too comfortable

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  29. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    What a save! Top European team need to buy him now! Vizhinha one of best ever gk! How is he 40? What he did last 20 yrs?

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  30. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Hows this R16 team (assuming Argentina go through)? Would you change anyone?

    Martinez, Crepeau
    Kounde, Cucurella, Medina, Martinez, Freeman
    Dembele, Olise, Bellingham, Pulisic, Saibari
    Kane, Mbappe, Messi

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