In one of the most talked-about matches of the World Cup round of 16, defending champions Argentina face Egypt today. The much-anticipated clash will be held in Atlanta, United States, at 10pm Bangladesh time on Tuesday (July 7). Two star players, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah, will be at the center of attention.
Ahead of the match, there was added interest around Argentina’s training session. Messi joined training slightly later than scheduled, having first held a separate meeting with coach Lionel Scaloni. He was later seen taking part energetically in training with his teammates.
Scaloni said back-to-back matches, long flights, hot weather and varying conditions at different venues have made this World Cup more difficult than usual. In his view, no team can be called a clear favorite in this tournament, and even a small mistake could prove costly.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, meanwhile, said his team is going through one of the best periods in the country’s football history. He said he respects Argentina greatly but is not afraid of them, adding that his side wants to play its natural game and has full confidence in its ability.
There are indications of a few changes in Argentina’s likely starting lineup. Nicolas Tagliafico could return after recovering from injury. Julian Alvarez may start in attack in place of Lautaro Martinez, and Leandro Paredes could also return to midfield.
While historical statistics favor Argentina, no calculation is the final word in the knockout stage. A single moment or a single player’s brilliance can change a match’s fortune. Both teams will therefore take the field aiming to deliver their best performance to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report