Cape Verde Set to Make World Cup History Against Argentina
Cape Verde will make football history on Friday when their Blue Sharks side take on Argentina in Miami, becoming the smallest nation ever to feature in a World Cup knockout match. It is a staggering achievement for a country of just half a million people with no professional domestic league to speak of.
According to The Guardian, the Blue Sharks’ group stage campaign captured imaginations well beyond their own shores. They opened with a 0-0 draw against Spain — the European champions and pre-tournament favourites — before Kevin Pina struck a wondergoal to see off Uruguay, and then held Saudi Arabia to another goalless draw to seal their place in the last 32. Check the live standings to see exactly how the groups finished.
Perhaps no player has embodied the Cape Verde story quite like goalkeeper Vozinha, who has accumulated 17.5 million new Instagram followers over the past two weeks alone. He will now share a pitch with Lionel Messi — something the goalkeeper himself has described as a dream.
Back home, the reaction has been one of sustained, joyful disbelief. The Guardian spoke to fans and locals who described an entire nation effectively downing tools for each match.