The Cape Verde head coach, Bubista, said his team have “shown that nothing is impossible” after his side secured a historic meeting with Argentina in the last 32.
Cape Verde became the smallest country by population to reach the World Cup’s knockout stages, and the first debutants since 2010 to do so, after drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Houston. The result meant they finished second in Group H, a stunning achievement given they were deemed outsiders in a group also including Spain and Uruguay.
Bubista’s side progressed with three draws and, draped in his country’s flag for the duration of his post-match press conference, he spoke of his pride at the example Cape Verde have set for football’s supposed minnows.
“It’s us? I didn’t know that,” he said after being told of the record they had broken. “In that case we have become an example that small countries also can have big objectives provided they have focus, determination and work with organisation. We have shown that nothing is impossible. We have represented our country but we also represent Africa and small countries around the world.
“I’ve always said that, sooner or later, Cape Verde would be on such a stage. Of course it’s hard to give that kind of forecast but we overcame several steps. We showed the world that you should not fear difficulties. Now we are in the knockout stage and it’s amazing for our people, for anyone who identifies with our team and especially for the players. They gave everything, and showed personality and discipline. When those come together you get this kind of outcome.”
As Bubista spoke, Cape Verde’s players could be heard celebrating in the dressing room a matter of yards away. He offered no bold proclamations about their prospects of shocking the reigning champions, Argentina, whom they will play in Miami on Friday, but promised they would face down the task with the appetite shown over the past fortnight.
“First of all we are proud to be able to play Argentina,” he said. “This is a country with which we have longstanding ties. But above all our will is to do things with our identity regardless of who the opponent is. We will play our game with attitude and responsibility, knowing that Argentina have some of the best players in the world plus Messi, who some believe is the best of all time.
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“It is a reason of joy. From the very beginning we said we had the opportunity to show our country to the rest of the world. It’s excellent for our country.”
Bubista’s counterpart, Georgios Donis – a former winger for Blackburn, Huddersfield and Sheffield United – was downbeat about the performance of his Saudi Arabia side, who depart with a single point and rarely looked like claiming the win they needed. “We were very poor in terms of creating things, controlling the game and creating actions,” he said. “One cannot win a game in this way.”