Argentina advanced to the World Cup last 16 with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Cape Verde in extra time, but former England striker Gary Wright has raised concerns about the defending champions’ vulnerabilities. The decisive goal came when Cristian Romero’s header deflected off Diney Borges, securing a narrow win for the two-time World Cup winners.
Cape Verde, long regarded as an underdog, matched Argentina’s intensity in a performance that has been hailed as one of the tournament’s most memorable underdog stories. The African side previously drew with Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, showcasing resilience and tactical discipline to challenge one of the pre-tournament favorites.
Wright, who previously identified Argentina as the sole team capable of defeating France, argued the match exposed critical flaws in the champions’ defense. “What Cape Verde has shown is that they [Argentina] are fallible,” he stated. “They are there to be taken. If you can match their effort and add quality in the final third, Argentina are beatable.”
Wright highlighted the wide areas as a particular weakness, emphasizing that opponents could exploit gaps in Argentina’s wing-back system. He also questioned the refereeing decisions involving Cristian Romero, who scored the decisive goal. “Romero was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card in the first half,” Wright said. “He ended up staying on the pitch and scoring, which changed the game.”
The result has sparked debate about Argentina’s ability to repeat their 2022 World Cup success. While the team remains a top contender, the narrow escape against Cape Verde has raised questions about their defensive reliability and physical preparedness as the tournament progresses.
