Ian Wright has cast doubt on Argentina's ability to retain the World Cup after the defending champions were taken to extra time by Cape Verde in a thrilling last-32 match. The tiny island nation, ranked 76th in the world, pushed Argentina to the limit before losing 3-2.
Cape Verde pushes Argentina to the brink
Argentina took an early lead through Lionel Messi, his seventh goal of the tournament. Cape Verde equalized on the hour through Deroy Durate, forcing extra time. Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina's lead, but Sidny Cabral scored a stunning equalizer. Cristian Romero's header, deflected off Diney Borges, proved decisive in the second period of extra time.
Wright's concerns
Speaking to ITV1, Wright said: "What Cape Verde has shown is that they [Argentina] are fallible. They are there to be beaten. If you can give the same kind of endeavour we saw Cape Verde give, but you have more quality in the final third, then Argentina are there to be beaten." He added: "I think in the wide areas they are very weak. You can get at them in those areas."
Romero fortunate to stay on
Wright also argued that Romero was lucky to finish the match, having avoided a yellow card in the first half before being booked later. "I think Romero was very fortunate. He should have been booked in the first half without a doubt. He got booked in the latter stages so he was lucky to be on the pitch and he ended up scoring one of the goals," Wright noted.
Argentina's path forward
Argentina, winners in Qatar four years ago, remain among the favorites but face questions after a shaky performance. Cape Verde had previously held Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia to draws, showing their capability. Wright's analysis suggests that teams with quality in attack could exploit Argentina's defensive vulnerabilities.
