PREVIEW: Holders Argentina look for another quarter-final appearance as they face Egypt in Atlanta | OneFootball

World Cup holders Argentina hope to get past Egypt and into yet another quarter-final when they face off in Atlanta, Argentina still reeling from Cape Verde.

Still recovering, no doubt, from their close call with one of the biggest ever World Cup upsets when they had to go to extra-time to take down minnows Cape Verde in Miami. An early goal from Lionel Messi (his seventh of the tournament) was replied to when Deroy Duarte netted the equaliser just shy of the hour mark.

It was a goal that shook both the Argentinian side and the rest of the watching world. When extra-time started and Lisandro Martinez netted the World Champions’ second many thought that was that. However, in one of the all-time great World Cup moments, Cape Verde clawed themselves back into it with a stunning Sidny Lopes Cabral effort that sailed into the top corner to level proceedings.

Argentina escaped however, thanks to a Leo Messi corner that was unfortunately nodded in by Diney.

The current holders now face Egypt in with a match-up against either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals on the line, Argentina haven’t lost a competitive international match since Brazil beat them in the 2019 Copa America.

It could be the final World Cup match for Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old surely won’t see another tournament but has shown throughout this one that he is still more than capable of performing at the highest level and he will be expected to carry his side through yet another difficult task.

Egypt are competing in their fourth ever World Cup after appearing at the finals in 1934 where they reached the group stage, 1990 where they bowed out in the groups, 2018 where they suffered the same fate and now where they have the chance to go further than they ever have before.

Led by the mercurial Mohamed Salah in what could very well be his last ever tournament for his nation, Egypt qualified second in their group behind Belgium but ahead of New Zealand and Iran which already marked just the second time the country had ever made it out of their groups.

They then faced Australia in the round of 32 which was an intense affair that ultimately had to be decided from the penalty spot after an Emam Ashour goal was cancelled out by an own goal from centre-half Mohamed Hany. Egypt held their nerve however and won the game 4-2 on penalties to break Aussie hearts and book their place in the round of 16.

The two sides have faced each other just once before and that was way back in March 2008 when goals from Sergio Aguero and defender Nicolás Burdisso saw off the Pharaohs at the Cairo International Stadium.

Argentina were understandably left exhausted after their gruelling 120-minute match-up with Cape Verde and those minutes have taken their toll. Nahuel Molina, Enzo Fernandez, Facundo Medina and Nico Gonzalez were all unable to complete a full training session yesterday and may all be risks for the Argentinians.

Gonzalez is still nursing an ankle injury and it is unclear whether Lionel Scaloni would risk the central midfielder after he was put on in extra-time against Cape Verde.

A man never too far away from records, Lionel Messi is fighting it out for the golden boot with players almost ten years younger than him and the magic man has already become the only player to ever score more than seven goals in two different World Cups.

As for Egypt, they continue to be light at the back, with left-backs Karim Hafez and Ahmed Fatouh, both of whom are touch and go to face Messi on that right-hand side, a job no one would want.

Away from full-back, Egypt are also without a centre-half in Mohamed Abdelmonem who is still touch and go ahead of Tuesday’s fixture. Mohamed Salah has been great for Egypt so far and will be expected to once again lead out his nation barring any last-minute injury issues.

Argentina vs Egypt kicks off at 5pm UK time in Atlanta, and is live on ITV.

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