Paredes: Facing Egypt Will Be Tough, We Knew This

Leandro Paredes, Argentina's midfielder, stated that the match against Cape Verde was one of the toughest for the team in the tournament so far. He noted that they were aware of their opponent's capabilities before securing a thrilling 3-2 victory after extra time, advancing to the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup. Paredes said in post-match comments: "We knew we were facing a team capable of putting us under pressure and unsettling us at times during the match." He added: "Cape Verde had a fantastic group stage and proved to be an organized and strong team, so the match was not easy at all." The Argentina midfielder continued: "We are playing at the highest level of world football, and all the teams here are physically and technically strong; there are no easy matches in the World Cup." Regarding the upcoming clash against Egypt in the Round of 16, Paredes stated: "Starting tomorrow, we will begin preparing for the match in the best possible way, as facing Egypt will be extremely tough and requires full concentration from everyone."