​Argentina will meet Egypt in the last-16 of the World Cup, aiming to avoid another knockout-stage scare as they chase back-to-back titles. The defending champions had to endure extra time against relatively unknown Cape Verde in the round of 32, with the match going to 2-2 before an own goal decided a 3-2 victory in Miami. That narrow win will fuel hope in Egypt that they can pull off a major upset against Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Egypt’s chances are bolstered by the presence of Mohamed Salah, who is hoping to spearhead the Pharaohs toward more historic moments after securing their first-ever knockout-stage win with a shootout triumph over Australia. For Argentina, Lionel Messi has been prolific, tallying seven goals in the tournament so far, though he will need to maintain that elite scoring form as the race for the Golden Boot intensifies, with Kylian Mbappé not far behind on pace.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the clash. Argentina’s last-16 tie against Egypt kicks off at 5pm BST on Tuesday, July 7, at Atlanta Stadium. In the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast on ITV1 and can be streamed free via ITVX.
The winner will advance to a quarter-final showdown against either Switzerland or Colombia, scheduled for Sunday, July 11, in Kansas City. Argentina, however, carry some concerns into this game after a two-hour slog against Cape Verde, with key players managing fatigue and potential injuries. Facundo Medina did not complete a full training session due to cramp, and Nico González remains doubtful with an ankle sprain. Egypt, meanwhile, hope left-back Karim Hafez will be fit to play after he was forced off against Australia. If Hafez cannot feature, Egypt would face an obstacle on the left side against Messi, with backup Ahmed Fatouh unavailable for selection.
Argentina’s likely starting XI is: E. Martínez; Molina, Romero, L. Martínez, Medina; De Paul, Fernández, Mac Allister; Messi, Martínez, Almada. Egypt’s probable lineup is: Shobeir; Hany, Fathy, Ibrahim, Rabia; Ashour, Lasheen, Ateya, Ziko; Salah, Marmoush.
This matchup promises to be a test of mettle for Argentina, who must overcome fatigue from a gruelling previous round, while Egypt seek to translate the nation’s belief into an audacious show of strength on the world stage. As the action unfolds at the Atlanta Stadium, fans will be keen to see whether the Pharaohs can conjure another upset and whether Messi and his Argentina teammates can sustain their title bid as they chase more glory on football’s biggest stage.