Left-footed royalties collide as Salah meets Messi
Two left-footed geniuses, two weary teams and one place in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah will take centre stage on Tuesday when defending champions Argentina face Egypt in their last-16 clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with both sides given little time to recover from exhausting Round-of-32 battles.
Argentina needed extra time to edge World Cup debutants Cape Verde 3-2 on Friday, advancing only after Diony Borges' 111th-minute own goal broke the hearts of a side who had fired 16 shots at the holders. Egypt endured the full 120 minutes against Australia before winning 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, reaching the last 16 for the first time in 92 years.
The quick turnaround has made recovery as important as tactics.
For Argentina, the Cape Verde scare was the first real crack in a campaign that had previously felt controlled. After cruising through the group stage, Lionel Scaloni's side struggled to impose themselves, prompting debate over whether it was merely an off night or a warning opponents can exploit.
Messi admitted afterwards that he was tired and lamented Argentina's inability to press high up the pitch. That matters because Argentina have leaned heavily on him. The 38-year-old has scored seven of their 11 goals so far, a total that includes an own goal in the team tally.
Scaloni has fitness concerns elsewhere too. Left-back Facundo Medina went off with severe cramp, while Enzo Fernández also suffered cramp and Nicolás González played through an ankle problem after Argentina had used all their substitutions. Nahuel Molina, Fernández and Medina were unable to complete the following day's recovery session, although Medina's issue has been dismissed as cramp. Nicolás Tagliafico is available if changes are needed at left-back, while González remains the bigger doubt with a reported ankle sprain.
Egypt will have watched Cape Verde's bravery with interest.
The Pharaohs are likely to lean again on defensive organisation before looking to Salah and Omar Marmoush on the counter-attack. A fully fit Salah could be decisive, although the forward entered the Australia match with a hamstring concern and at times appeared reluctant to sprint at full speed during another draining 120-minute contest.
Argentina, however, remain masters of survival when matches stretch beyond regulation time. Across all World Cups, they have won 10 of their 12 games that went past 90 minutes, earning four non-shootout victories and six wins on penalties.
The winners will face Switzerland or Colombia in Kansas City on July 11.
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