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Lionel Scaloni warns Argentina says don’t underestimate Cape Verde in World Cup tussle

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Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has warned his players not to underestimate Cape Verde national football team ahead of their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 encounter.

The reigning world champions will face the African debutants after Cape Verde made history by becoming the smallest nation by population to qualify for the knockout stage of a men’s FIFA World Cup.

Few observers expected Cape Verde to progress when they were drawn into a challenging Group H alongside Spain national football team, Uruguay national football team and Saudi Arabia national football team.

However, the tournament newcomers exceeded expectations with a series of determined performances, earning three consecutive draws to secure qualification.

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A goalless draw against Spain, followed by an entertaining 2-2 stalemate with Uruguay and another draw against Saudi Arabia, was enough to see Cape Verde finish as runners-up in the group and book a place in the knockout rounds.

Meanwhile, Argentina national football team, inspired by captain Lionel Messi, topped Group J after an impressive group-stage campaign and head into the match as overwhelming favourites.

Despite Argentina’s status, Scaloni insisted that his players must approach the fixture with complete focus and respect for their opponents.

Speaking after Argentina’s victory over Jordan national football team, the coach praised Cape Verde’s organisation, discipline and resilience throughout the tournament.

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“On Cape Verde, I’m not surprised they qualified. They made things very difficult for every opponent they faced. They are a tough team and they’ll make life difficult for us,” Scaloni said.

“They frustrated Spain, one of the tournament favourites. Uruguay couldn’t beat them, and neither could Saudi Arabia.”

Scaloni’s comments reflect Argentina’s determination to avoid complacency as they continue their quest to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title against a Cape Verde side that has already emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest surprise packages.

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World Cup: FIFA president, Infantino told to resign after Spain won trophy

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LaLiga President, Javier Tebas, has urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.

The event wrapped up in New York on Sunday, with Spain securing a 1-0 victory over Argentina, thereby winning their second title.

Tebas criticized FIFA’s management of the tournament, particularly the implementation of hydration breaks and the musical performance during the final.

He also referenced the Balogun incident as an example of Infantino’s mismanagement of the federation, asserting that it necessitates his resignation.

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“FIFA organizes events according to their own interests, rather than for the benefit of football. If they require a 27-minute break, they simply create one.

“Hydration breaks are absurd. We have them in LaLiga, but only under extreme heat conditions. The stadiums in Dallas, LA, and Atlanta were air-conditioned; I even had to wear a sweater in the stands! It was ridiculous, all for a commercial interruption. Additionally, there was the Balogun situation.

“They were fortunate that Belgium eliminated the USA, as otherwise, a scandal could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his position. With Belgium’s victory, they managed to suppress the issue. However, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Infantino should resign; his time has come.

“Yet, he enjoys the backing of the establishment and national federations. There is no opposing candidate; no one is willing to run for a position they are likely to lose. The system is fundamentally flawed. In the USA, I have heard many voices criticizing Infantino and opposing his actions,” he stated (via Tribal Football).

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Gianni Infantino and FIFA faced scrutiny during the tournament, particularly due to the alterations made to the traditional organization of the competition. These changes prompted UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin to boycott the final in New York.

A significant topic of discussion during the tournament was the involvement of the US government in the Folarin Balogun decision. President Donald Trump disclosed that he had urged Infantino to reassess the decision after the striker received a red card, leading to the suspension of his ban upon review.

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Aftermath ofWorld Cup: 17 national team coaches step down after fiesta

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The emotional aftermath of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has continued to reshape international football, with no fewer than 17 national team coaches leaving their positions following the conclusion of the tournament.

For some, the decision marked the end of remarkable eras built over several years, while for others, the disappointment of failing to meet expectations proved too difficult to overcome. A number of coaches chose to resign, others saw their contracts expire without renewal, while some were dismissed as their football associations looked to begin a new chapter.International Sports Competitions

The latest casualty is Belgium manager Rudi Garcia, whose departure was confirmed on Monday after the Royal Belgian Football Association announced it would not renew his contract, which expires on July 31.

Garcia guided Belgium to the quarter-finals, where the Red Devils were eliminated by eventual champions Spain, who went on to edge Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s final.

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His exit adds to a growing list of high-profile managerial changes that have followed the tournament, reflecting the enormous expectations and pressure attached to coaching at the highest level of international football.

Among the biggest departures is France’s Didier Deschamps, who brought an end to his remarkable 14-year reign after leading Les Bleus through one of the most successful periods in their history.

Portugal’s Roberto Martínez also stepped down after his side’s Round of 16 defeat to Spain, while Croatia’s Zlatko Dalić ended his nine-year spell after his team’s Round of 32 elimination.

Mexico’s Javier Aguirre resigned after England knocked his side out in the Round of 16, while Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman departed following the Dutch team’s Round of 32 exit.

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Marcelo Bielsa also stepped aside after their respective World Cup campaigns, as Scotland’s Steve Clarke and South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo resigned after failing to achieve their tournament objectives.International Sports Competitions

Tunisia dismissed Sabri Lamouchi after a crushing 5-1 defeat in their opening match, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann also departed following disappointing campaigns that fell short of expectations while Czechia’s Miroslav Koubek resigned following his country’s group-stage exit

Senegal parted ways with Pape Thiaw after terminating his contract, while Carlos Queiroz left Ghana after the Black Stars were eliminated in the Round of 32.

The full list of coaches who have left their national teams after the 2026 FIFA World Cup includes:

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Didier Deschamps (France)

Roberto Martínez (Portugal)

Zlatko Dalić (Croatia)

Javier Aguirre (Mexico)

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Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)

Sebastián Beccacece (Ecuador)

Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay)

Steve Clarke (Scotland)

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Hong Myung-bo (South Korea)

Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia)

Miroslav Koubek (Czechia)

Pape Thiaw (Senegal)

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Rudi Garcia (Belgium)

Carlos Queiroz (Ghana)

Jamal Sellami (Jordan)

Vladimir Petković (Algeria)

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Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)

The wave of departures underlines the harsh realities of international football, where even experienced coaches often pay the price for underwhelming performances. With qualification campaigns for future tournaments already on the horizon, many football federations are expected to begin rebuilding under new leadership in the coming months.

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2026 World Cup: FIFA begins to probe Argentina V Spain final over malpractices

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FIFA has began a disciplinary investigation into the aftermath of the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

Recall there were ugly scenes at the end of the game, involving players and coaches from both teams.

The game was ultimately decided by Ferran Torres’ goal in the 106th minute.

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Before Torres’ goal, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic for a 90th minute foul on Pau Cubarsí.

At the end of the game, footage has emerged of Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina hitting Spain’s Eric García and Rodri, while Argentina coach Roberto Ayala was also seen to strike Dani Olmo.

A FIFA statement said, “Following an assessment of the relevant match reports for the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, and in line with article 36 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor to investigate potential breaches of the FDC with regard to the post-match incidents.

“Further details will be communicated by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee once the prosecutor’s report has been completed.”

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