What happened: Lionel Messi reflected on a demanding knockout tie, saying his side always expected a difficult match. He pointed to the opponent's earlier results — not losing to Spain or Uruguay — as proof of their quality, and stressed that in knockout football nobody gives anything away for free.

Why it matters: Argentina came through their World Cup last-32 meeting with Cape Verde to keep their run alive. Messi's remarks underline how thin the margins become as the tournament reaches its decisive rounds, where a single lapse ends a campaign.

What to watch: Attention turns to Argentina's next assignment in the bracket, with Messi again central to how deep the side can advance.