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Argentina luckily escape as they manageably survive tiny Cape Verde scare after extra time

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Lionel Messi’s Argentina beat rank outsiders Cape Verde 3-2 after extra-time in an epic contest to reach the World Cup last 16 on Friday.

Lionel Scaloni’s side looked set for a comfortable evening when captain Lionel Messi broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, latching onto an exquisite lofted pass from Lisandro Martínez before firing emphatically into the roof of the net.

Despite Argentina dominating possession and creating the better chances, Cape Verde refused to be overawed and produced a resilient second-half display that stunned the South American giants.

The Africans drew level in the 59th minute when Ryan Mendes picked out Deroy Duarte, who calmly slotted beyond goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to ignite hopes of one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

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Messi twice came close to restoring Argentina’s advantage, only to be denied by Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose string of outstanding saves kept his side in the contest.

With neither team able to find a winner in regulation time, the match headed into extra time.

Argentina regained the lead almost immediately after the restart when defender Lisandro Martínez reacted quickest inside the six-yard box in the 92nd minute, converting from close range after Alexis Mac Allister had nodded a Messi corner into his path.

But Cape Verde responded once again in remarkable fashion.

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In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral unleashed a stunning strike from distance that flew into the top corner, leaving Emiliano Martínez rooted and forcing another dramatic twist in an already pulsating encounter.

Just as the tie appeared destined for a penalty shootout, Argentina found the decisive breakthrough.

A dangerous corner delivered by Messi in the 111th minute caused panic inside the Cape Verde penalty area, with defender Diney Borges inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under intense pressure to hand the two-time world champions a 3-2 lead.

Cape Verde refused to surrender and launched a relentless late assault.

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Emiliano Martínez produced two outstanding saves in the closing minutes, first denying Steven Moreira’s close-range header before brilliantly pushing away a dangerous free-kick from Sidny Lopes Cabral to preserve Argentina’s slender advantage.

The final whistle confirmed Argentina’s passage after one of the most dramatic matches of the knockout stage.

While Messi once again inspired his side with a goal, an assist and constant attacking menace, Cape Verde emerged with enormous credit after pushing one of football’s traditional powerhouses to the limit in a fearless performance that won admiration despite the heartbreaking defeat.

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Anthony Joshua knocks out Kristian Prenga after initial scare

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Anthony Joshua remains on course for a showdown with British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury later this year after recovering from being knocked down inside 20 seconds to secure a second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in a wild clash in Jeddah.

Joshua endured a dismal first three minutes, hitting the canvas twice, firstly from a vicious uppercut, with the Albanian knockout specialist eyeing a seismic shock.

However, Prenga was demolished shortly after by right hands in AJ’s first outing since he was a passenger in a car crash last December that killed close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

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Arsenal in surprise drive for Vinícius Jr. amid Real Madrid contract uncertainty

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Arsenal are reportedly considering the possibility of signing Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior in what could become one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.

According to respected transfer journalist David Ornstein, the Gunners have internally approved the idea of pursuing the Brazilian winger if he fails to agree a new contract with the Spanish giants.

While there have been no club-to-club negotiations at this stage, the interest is said to have the backing of Arsenal’s hierarchy, with the North London club closely monitoring the player’s contract situation.

Vinícius has entered the final 12 months of his current deal at Real Madrid, raising questions about his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabéu. Madrid are keen to avoid losing one of their biggest stars on a free transfer and are also mindful of a substantial loyalty bonus that would become due if he remains at the club into next season.

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Despite the growing speculation, the move remains in its early stages, with no formal talks having taken place between the clubs. However, Ornstein reports that Vinícius is among Arsenal’s primary transfer targets should an opportunity arise.

The Brazilian international has established himself as one of the world’s top attacking players since joining Real Madrid, playing a key role in the club’s domestic and European successes. Any potential deal would likely require a significant transfer fee and a major financial commitment from Arsenal.

For now, Arsenal are keeping a close watch on developments, with Vinícius’ contract negotiations expected to determine whether the Premier League side can turn their ambitious interest into a formal pursuit.

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Just in: 23m support petition to ban Argentina from World Cup as FIFA pushes back

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An online petition calling for Argentina to be banned from the FIFA World Cup has attracted more than 23 million signatures from football fans across the globe, following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.

According to talkSPORT, the petition, titled “Argentina Out,” amassed 23,316,108 signatures from supporters in 170 countries in less than a week, making it one of the most widely shared online petitions in history.

Organisers had initially hoped to collect five million signatures, but the campaign quickly surpassed that target as frustration over Argentina’s performances and officiating during the tournament spread among football fans.

The petition accused FIFA and match officials of showing favoritism toward Argentina and captain Lionel Messi throughout the competition, allegations that FIFA has consistently denied.

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The petition stated: “Why should the rest of the teams play in the tournament if the winner is known in advance? Exclude Argentina from the World Cup and give everyone a fair chance.” The campaign gained momentum during the World Cup but ultimately failed to achieve its objective.

Argentina’s campaign ended in disappointment after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final. Messi, playing what many believe could be his final World Cup, was seen leaving the pitch in tears following emotional scenes after the final whistle.

The petition was officially closed after the tournament ended, with its website displaying the message: “FIFA ignored us but Spain delivered. Thank you Spain.” Despite the campaign’s widespread support, Argentina faces no disciplinary action and will continue to participate in future FIFA World Cup competitions.

The South American giants are expected to feature in the 2030 tournament, where they are among the nations scheduled to co-host an expanded 64-team competition. Although the petition drew more than 23 million signatures, it narrowly missed becoming the largest online petition ever recorded.

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The current Guinness World Record remains with the Jubilee 2000 campaign, an international movement that called for the cancellation of unpayable debts owed by the world’s poorest nations.

Launched in April 1997, the campaign collected 24,319,181 signatures from 166 countries before being presented at the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York in 2000.

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