It should have come as no surprise. Before and after every encounter, head coach Bubista and his players must have used the word “competitive” well over a hundred times in interviews.
The Blue Sharks were ultimately eliminated from the by Argentina in Miami on Friday, courtesy of a . But they exited the tournament the same way they entered it, by pushing one of the heavyweights all the way.
They have every reason to be proud and they will not shy away from saying so. Listen to them closely, though, while they are still processing the emotions of such a thrilling encounter, and another feeling emerges beneath the surface: the belief that they could have gone one step further.
“I’m not one for moral victories,” defender Pico Lopes told FIFA. “We came so close and could’ve even taken the game to penalties. Unfortunately, it was one hurdle too many.
“Overall, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished here. We showed our character by getting back into the game and putting them under pressure right until the final whistle.”
After La Albiceleste had cruised through the group stage, reinforcing the widespread belief that they would enjoy a straightforward path through the knockout rounds, Cabo Verde emphatically tore up the script.
Lionel Messi was among the Argentina players full of praise for the opposition.
"Some people thought it was going to be straightforward, but that couldn’t have been further from reality,” explained the . “They pressed us really well. There are no handouts in knockout football. They’d already performed well against Spain and Uruguay, so we knew it was going to be difficult.”
Impressively, the Blues Sharks remained unbeaten over 90 minutes against three nations that have won the FIFA World Cup™ on six occasions between them. They forced reigning champions Argentina to dig deep in a way that had not been required previously.
“I think we did enough to win the match,” goalkeeper Vozinha told FIFA. “Unfortunately, that’s football. Argentina scored the third goal from a set piece, but we went toe to toe with the holders.
“We have enormous respect for Messi and every Argentina player. Once we step on to the pitch, while we know the quality of our opponents, we have to focus on ourselves and our own game.”
Argentina dictated the tempo in the first half after Messi brilliantly opened the scoring. By half-time, the reigning champions appeared to be in complete control and Cabo Verde were pinned back.
Everything changed after the break, however. The Blue Sharks emerged with a different mindset, pressed higher, started winning their individual battles and levelled through Deroy Duarte’s fine finish from a tight angle.
“We talked it through at half-time,” Duarte told FIFA. “Everyone was saying, ‘Keep believing, guys!’ We’d been full of confidence throughout the tournament and knew we could ruffle some feathers. We managed to do that in the second half and took the match into extra time.”
After falling 2-1 behind on 92 minutes, the islanders drew level once again through a sumptuous strike from left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral, who had effectively switched from a full-back to a winger by then.
“It was a fantastic end-to-end match for the neutral, with attack after attack,” Pico Lopes noted. “We had to withstand so much pressure at times, but we responded and fought until the very last moment. Sidny’s strike showed how much quality we have, too.”
A match played at a relentless pace was ultimately decided by Cristian Romero’s header, which took a deflection off Diney Borges before making the net bulge to seal a 3-2 triumph.
Cabo Verde had already secured their place in history by reaching the knockout stage on their tournament debut. Their fearless display in Miami, however, elevated that achievement to another level.
“It’s incredible,” Duarte said. “I don’t think anyone expected us to produce a performance like that. Having headed into the tournament as underdogs, it’s wonderful to put our country on the map and showcase the way we play.”
After hearing those reflections and witnessing his players’ sustained efforts over 120 unforgettable minutes, Bubista summed it up simply. “We’re ever so proud of our players because they represented us with dignity at this World Cup. Above all, we showed our identity.”
Sources: FIFA Official
