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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…
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 5 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
      3 hours, 20 mins ago

      Will play munoz. 50-50 on l diaz

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  2. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    4 hours, 5 mins ago

    What are the odds for Cape Verde to win?

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 21 mins ago

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

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  3. NZREDS
    • 12 Years
    4 hours, 3 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
      3 hours, 37 mins 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
        30 mins 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
      3 hours, 9 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
    3 hours, 56 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
      3 hours, 49 mins ago

      Could haul against CV

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    2. POP KC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 hours, 47 mins ago

      Thinking about it, but Mbappe was money

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    3. caz777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 hours, 46 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
        3 hours, 45 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
        3 hours, 42 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
          3 hours, 39 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
      3 hours, 43 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
    3 hours, 35 mins ago

    Which one for R16?

    A. Hakimi
    B. Kounde

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    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 hours, 31 mins ago

      A. Hakimi all day

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    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 18 mins ago

      Hakimi. Though a French defender also needed probably

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  6. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 14 mins ago

    Cape Verde.. so far they are playing good

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 10 mins ago

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

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  7. BR510
      3 hours, 8 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
      3 hours, 7 mins ago

      There u go.. the legend does it again

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    • JBG
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 7 mins ago

      Mental how he just keeps on scoring this WC

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        3 hours, 5 mins ago

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

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 6 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
      3 hours, 6 mins ago

      Argentina 1-0

      Messl, of course.

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        3 hours, 5 mins ago

        L. Martinez assist

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        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          3 hours, 4 mins ago

          Lisandro not lautaro

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    • PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 5 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
        3 hours ago

        Huh? Why should they?

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        1. PartyTime
          • 5 Years
          2 hours, 39 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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          1. SM001
            • 10 Years
            2 hours, 24 mins ago

            BedTime for PartyTime.

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      2. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        2 hours, 55 mins ago

        The clue is in the name African

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      3. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 hours, 25 mins ago

        It is weird...to say it nicely.

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    • PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 3 mins ago

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

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 54 mins ago

        If no genius messi it will still be 0-0

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        1. PartyTime
          • 5 Years
          2 hours, 33 mins ago

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

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          1. Herger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            2 hours, 26 mins ago

            We can

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 57 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
        2 hours, 52 mins ago

        Or norway if Haaland keeps firing

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        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          2 hours, 51 mins ago

          Or of course mexico.. n

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 46 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 hours, 39 mins ago

        Tap in. Ronaldo would have 2 by now.

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        1. bso
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 hours, 24 mins ago

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

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          1. Herger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            2 hours, 14 mins ago

            Agreed. That’s why we call him Pessi

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        2. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          2 hours, 11 mins ago

          That was not a tap in. Excellent control and finish

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    • Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 30 mins ago

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

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      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 hours, 24 mins ago

        Who is going to win this one???

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    • bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 21 mins ago

      Who will ARG play if they go through?

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 16 mins ago

        Egypt. But 1-1!

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        1. bso
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 hours, 5 mins ago

          Yep...anything can happen!

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    • The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 17 mins ago

      YESSSSSS

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 16 mins ago

      Wow! Wow! Wow!

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    • CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 16 mins ago

      Cape Verde equalize.

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        2 hours, 15 mins ago

        Duarte goal, Mendes assist

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      2. PartyTime
        • 5 Years
        2 hours, 14 mins ago

        Come onnnnnn best team in the world cup

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        1. Herger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 hours, 12 mins ago

          Germany for me

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    • PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 15 mins ago

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

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 13 mins ago

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

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        1. PartyTime
          • 5 Years
          2 hours, 11 mins 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
            2 hours, 8 mins ago

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

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            1. PartyTime
              • 5 Years
              2 hours ago

              Haha... 😆

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 14 mins ago

      Glad i have only 1 arg defender

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    • PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 13 mins ago

      VoZiNhA you beauty! What a goalie

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 12 mins ago

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

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      1. PartyTime
        • 5 Years
        2 hours, 10 mins ago

        😆 hahahahaha he is too good I swear

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      2. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 hours, 4 mins ago

        I hope so. He is very good!

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 9 mins ago

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

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    • Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 9 mins ago

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

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    • PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 8 mins 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 hour, 59 mins ago

        That would be biggest upset in football history!

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 5 mins ago

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

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      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 4 mins ago

        *outside messi, argentina don't look great

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        1. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          2 hours ago

          ARG too comfortable

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    • jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 1 min 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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    • Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 hour, 58 mins 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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