Cape Verde's unforgettable World Cup journey has come to an end after a heartbreaking 3-2 extra-time defeat to holders Argentina in the Round of 32. Making their World Cup debut, the Blue Sharks, from a nation of just half a million people, reached the knockout stage without losing a single match in regulation, and pushed the defending champions to the very brink before finally bowing out.
Their run was built on three remarkable draws. They opened by holding Spain to a 0-0 stalemate, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha becoming an overnight sensation, then fought back for a 2-2 thriller against Uruguay, and sealed a 0-0 result against Saudi Arabia to advance as Group H runners-up, the first World Cup debutant to reach the knockouts since Slovakia in 2010.
Against Argentina in Miami, they came within minutes of the greatest upset in tournament history. Lionel Messi opened the scoring, his record-extending 20th career World Cup goal, but Deroy Duarte equalized, and after Lisandro Martínez struck in extra time, Sidny Lopes Cabral curled in a stunning contender for goal of the tournament to make it 2-2. Argentina only survived when Cristián Romero's 111th-minute header deflected in off a defender. The fairytale is over, but as the smallest nation by land area ever to reach the knockouts, and $11 million richer from FIFA, this team won't be forgotten anytime soon.
Sources: ESPN, Sky Sports, NPR.
Cape Verde's unforgettable World Cup journey has come to an end after a heartbreaking 3-2 extra-time defeat to holders Argentina in the Round of 32. Making their World Cup debut, the Blue Sharks, from a nation of just half a million people, reached the knockout stage without losing a single match in regulation, and pushed the defending champions to the very brink before finally bowing out.
Their run was built on three remarkable draws. They opened by holding Spain to a 0-0 stalemate, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha becoming an overnight sensation, then fought back for a 2-2 thriller against Uruguay, and sealed a 0-0 result against Saudi Arabia to advance as Group H runners-up, the first World Cup debutant to reach the knockouts since Slovakia in 2010.
Against Argentina in Miami, they came within minutes of the greatest upset in tournament history. Lionel Messi opened the scoring, his record-extending 20th career World Cup goal, but Deroy Duarte equalized, and after Lisandro Martínez struck in extra time, Sidny Lopes Cabral curled in a stunning contender for goal of the tournament to make it 2-2. Argentina only survived when Cristián Romero's 111th-minute header deflected in off a defender. The fairytale is over, but as the smallest nation by land area ever to reach the knockouts, and $11 million richer from FIFA, this team won't be forgotten anytime soon.
Sources: ESPN, Sky Sports, NPR.
