01Sound smart about this

1. The Salah redemption arc: in 2022 he missed the shootout penalty — with laser pointers in his eyes — that kept Egypt out of the last World Cup. On Friday he buried a Panenka in Egypt's first-ever World Cup shootout win and left the field in tears: 'It's history. This was the match of a lifetime.'
2. Argentina survived a scare for the ages: Cape Verde pulled level twice before a 111th-minute own goal — forced by Cristian Romero's header — saved the champions 3-2 in extra time. Messi leads the Golden Boot with 7 goals and now owns 20 career World Cup goals, the most ever.
3. Both teams went a full 120 minutes on Friday and Argentina's coach is livid about the quick turnaround ('when you need the rest the most, you have the least'). Egypt's defense is threadbare — left-back Ahmed Fatouh (hamstring) is unlikely and center-back Mohamed Abdelmonem (ankle) doubtful — while Argentina got good news: Nico González's ankle scare turned out minor and he's available.

02Players to actually watchtap a line to copy

Lionel Messi

Argentina · Forward

Leads the Golden Boot with 7 goals, owns the all-time World Cup scoring record with 20, and is carrying Argentina's attack almost single-handedly.

Say this“Messi has 20 World Cup goals — the most by anyone, ever — and 7 this tournament, the same number he had when Argentina won it all in 2022.”

Emiliano Martínez (eh-mee-lee-AH-no mar-TEE-nez)

Argentina · Goalkeeper

'Dibu' is the most feared shootout goalkeeper alive — his antics won Argentina the 2022 final — and Egypt just showed it's happy to take games the distance.

Say this“If this reaches penalties, Dibu Martínez's mind games against Salah's Panenka is the single best subplot the tournament could offer.”

Mohamed Salah

Egypt · Forward

Egypt's talisman, playing through a managed hamstring and delivering anyway — a goal, an assist, and the coolest penalty of the tournament so far.

Say this“Everything Egypt does goes through Salah's left foot — watch him drift in from the right wing and cut inside.”

MS

Mostafa Shobeir (moss-TAH-fa show-BEER)

Egypt · Goalkeeper

The breakout keeper of Egypt's run — he saved a penalty against Iran, and his father was Egypt's goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup.

Say this“Egypt's keeper is the son of Egypt's 1990 World Cup keeper — dad shut out Ireland at Italia '90, and now the kid is writing his own chapter.”

03Ask thistap to copy

04Opinions you can safely have

• Both teams played 120 minutes Friday and this kicks off at noon in Atlanta heat — expect a slow, cagey first half and a frantic last twenty minutes.
• Argentina should win, but Cape Verde just published the blueprint for scaring them: sit deep, stay compact, punish one mistake.
• Egypt will happily take this to penalties — and with Dibu Martínez on the other side, that's the one coin flip Argentina genuinely doesn't want.

05Jargon of the match

06The call

Argentina 2-0. Egypt's dream run meets the best knockout player who ever lived — but if it's still 0-0 at 70 minutes, every Argentine in the building starts remembering Friday night.