Argentina vs Cape Verde: The biggest shock in World Cup history predicted after bold “100%” claim

Could Cape Verde truly bushed reigning World Cup champions Argentina?

The archipelagic state located successful the cardinal Atlantic Ocean disconnected the seashore of West Africa has a colonisation of astir 525,000 inhabitants and is the smallest federation to ever scope the World Cup knockout rounds.

Cape Verde person surely been 1 of the astonishment packages astatine this summer’s tournament, holding European champions Spain, two-time satellite champions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws successful the radical stage.

Three points from 3 games was capable for the Blue Sharks to unafraid 2nd spot successful Group H and suffice for the past 32, wherever they look South American giants Argentina successful Miami connected Friday.

Cape Verde beryllium 62 places beneath Argentina successful the FIFA World Rankings and a triumph for Pedro Leitao Brito’s broadside would correspond arguably the biggest upset successful World Cup history.

Even the astir ardent Cape Verde fans whitethorn not judge that their squad tin realistically bushed Argentina, but the country’s president has predicted a 1-0 triumph for the Blue Sharks.

President Neves predicts Argentina 0-1 Cape Verde

"I deliberation Cape Verde tin bushed Argentina 1-0," President Jose Maria Neves told BBC News. "We are playing to win... erstwhile expectations are debased regarding a team, and if that squad has the impulse to win, it is possible.

“A tiny federation similar Cape Verde should marque an effort to ever bash that - to permanently astonishment people”.

Cape Verde's squad has "100% faith, 100% hope, and it would wholly sweat retired its jersey. So, we person a 100% accidental to triumph against Argentina,” helium added.

"We went to this World Cup to constitute our ain destiny, which is, facing champions. So, we are going to look Argentina and [Lionel] Messi with the aforesaid determination, aforesaid will, and with a tendency to triumph and scope the adjacent phase.”

Head manager Brito, nicknamed Bubista, has echoed the words of Cape Verde’s President and has insisted that “nothing is impossible” connected the planetary stage.

"From the precise beginning, we've said that 1 of the purposes we had was to amusement our state to the remainder of the world," Bubista told reporters.

"To beryllium capable to play Argentina and Messi successful a signifier similar this is fantabulous for our country, careless of the lucifer itself."

Meanwhile, midfielder Deroy Duarte - who plays his nine shot with Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets Razgrad - feels that helium is "in a dream" and has besides insisted that "anything is possible."

Stopping eight-time Ballon d’Or victor Lionel Messi is the biggest situation for Cape Verde, with the legendary 39-year-old performing astatine the highest of his powers this summer.

Messi has already scored six goals successful conscionable 2 starts and 1 substitute outing for Argentina successful North America, and has go the World Cup’s all-time grounds goalscorer with 19 goals.

Cape Verde’s Pico volition “relish the challenge” against Messi

One Cape Verde subordinate who volition beryllium tasked with stopping Messi is centre-back Roberto Lopes – besides known arsenic Pico – who was calved successful Ireland and has spent the past 9 years of his nine vocation with Shamrock Rovers.

The 34-year-old's mother, Judy Lopes, believes that her lad volition “relish the situation of taking connected Messi astatine the weekend”.

“He's ever precise composed, assured and performs precise good nether pressure," she told BBC Sport NI. "He conscionable takes it each successful the stride. He's precise grounded, level-headed and he'll beryllium good capable to artifact retired the sound that's astir successful this fixture.

“Mission accomplished” for Cape Verde careless of Argentina result

"People don't realise he's precise experienced astatine this stage. He's played done 2 AFCONs [Africa Cup of Nations] and besides spent 10 years with Shamrock Rovers and I don't deliberation it'll faze him astatine all, and I deliberation he'll relish the situation and hopefully travel retired connected top."

Asked if she thought she would ever beryllium successful this position, Pico’s parent replied: "Not astatine all. Not successful a cardinal years, it's similar I'm watching it each hap from the outside.

"I don't really judge I'm progressive successful it astatine all, it's that amazing. Just to deliberation he's astir apt going up against 1 of the champion players successful the satellite astatine the moment.

"Also that he, Messi, volition beryllium studying Pico's signifier earlier Friday and analysing his strategy and seeing however he's going to bushed the stone astatine the back!"

If Cape Verde’s fairytale World Cup travel were to travel to an extremity connected Friday, the state tin inactive “leave the World Cup with our heads precocious and with a consciousness of ngo accomplished,” according to President Neves.