Cape Verde Books Spot in World Cup Knockout Stage Following Saudi Arabia Stalemate, Will Meet Argentina Next

Cape Verde, newcomers to the World Cup, have secured a spot in the knockout rounds, where they will face reigning champions Argentina, following a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia on Friday, thereby extending their remarkable journey.

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This result, combined with Spain's 1-0 victory over Uruguay, led to Cape Verde finishing as runners-up in Group H, with the team ranked 67th in the world, boasting a population of just over 500,000, set to play Argentina in Miami on July 3.

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Having drawn all three of their group matches, the players of Cape Verde, the third-smallest team in World Cup history by population, were overcome with emotion, with some even brought to tears, as they awaited news of the Spain match, which they received via a mobile phone, prompting an eruption of celebration.

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Midfielder Deroy Duarte expressed his astonishment, stating, "I'm living in a dream to be honest," as the team's joyous reaction was mirrored in Cape Verde's capital, Praia, where fans had stayed up into the early hours to watch the match.

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Cape Verde's coach, Bubista, who attended the press conference wrapped in his country's flag, reflected on the team's achievement, saying, "We had this in our minds and heads that we could get to this stage," and "We are proud to get to this stage and again have showed the world that we are a small country but we fight for what we want."

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Bubista further emphasized the team's determination, stating, "To us, nothing is impossible," as Spain finished with seven points, while Cape Verde accumulated three, and Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were eliminated with two points each.

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Spain will now face the team that finishes second in Group J, which will be either Algeria or Austria, while Cape Verde's historic run continues, with their debut in the World Cup marked by a series of impressive performances.

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Coach Bubista made several changes to his starting lineup, including some enforced ones, but retained the services of his heroic goalkeeper, Vozinha, who had single-handedly kept Cape Verde in the match against European champions Spain in their first-ever World Cup encounter.

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Vozinha's exceptional performance was a key factor in Cape Verde's famous point against Spain, and he also played a crucial role in their brave 2-2 draw with two-time former champions Uruguay, which gave them a chance to reach the last 32 coming into the match against Saudi Arabia.

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In the match against Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde had the better of the first half, but neither side was able to create any significant scoring opportunities, with the Saudis suffering a blow when experienced defender Hassan al-Tambakti was stretchered off injured in the 33rd minute.

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As the first half drew to a close, Spain took the lead in their match against Uruguay, prompting cheers from Cape Verde fans in Houston, while Willy Semedo fired a shot not too far wide of the Saudi post, but neither side was able to break the deadlock in a tense first half.

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In the second half, Jamiro Monteiro had a major chance from close range, but his finish was weak, and Kevin Pina had an effort from distance that whistled just off target, as the tension increased in the final quarter of the match.

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Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper, Mohammed al-Owais, made a vital stop from Laros Duarte in the 75th minute, but Cape Verde were the more likely to score as the match entered its final minutes, ultimately settling for a point that was enough to secure their spot in the knockout rounds.