Argentina advanced as Group J winner with three wins, scoring eight goals and conceding just one. Cabo Verde, runner-up in Group H behind Spain, reached the knockout stage without a defeat after drawing 0-0 with Spain, 2-2 with Uruguay and 0-0 with Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We are excited like everyone else, but there is an opponent that we have to face, we have to respect, an opponent that has done very well,\" Scaloni told a pre-match press conference, reports Xinhua. \"The margin is now narrowing. I think it's not going to be easy. That's the reality,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Scaloni highlighted Cabo Verde's defensive organisation and counterattacking threat, dismissing any suggestion the African side is at the tournament by chance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It is a team that has not lost. Even in some matches they deserved more - against Saudi Arabia I think they deserved to win. Against Spain and Uruguay maybe they suffered a little more, but they defended well,\" said the 48-year-old.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"They block the interior pass well and then come out very well on the counterattack. And they want to play well. It's a good team, we had already seen it as a possible rival. They are not there by chance, we have to respect them and that's what we'll do.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It is a team that has not lost. Even in some matches they deserved more - against Saudi Arabia I think they deserved to win. Against Spain and Uruguay maybe they suffered a little more, but they defended well,\" said the 48-year-old.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The temperature forecast is to be around 30 degrees Celsius at kickoff. Scaloni acknowledged the challenge but stressed that it is the same for everyone. \"It's for both, no doubt. I imagine it would have been better to play it at night. But the schedules are what they are and that's it,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n