Pico Lopes to treasure Cape Verde jersey after World Cup draw with Spain

Lopes broke the habit of a lifetime by trying to swap jerseys with a Spanish player after Monday's World Cup game but it didn't work out.

Roberto Lopes: "I think to a man, defensively, we were very, very good and probably deserved that point." Pic: AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Roberto 'Pico' Lopes said he "felt a bit lost in the headlights" following Cape Verde's surprise goalless draw with Spain at the World Cup on Monday. The Shamrock Rovers captain was part of a gritty Cape Verde defensive display which frustrated one of the favourites to win the tournament.

"I was just looking for my family and just wanted to celebrate that moment with them," the Dubliner explained. "But then afterwards you're in the air, thinking 'what just happened here?' 

"I suppose in a competitive environment it's really unusual to be celebrating a draw but I had some time to myself in the dressing room reflecting on it. That point, what that means, our first ever point at a World Cup against one of the best teams in the world - it's a very happy moment for us and I'm very proud of this group."

Lopes had identified before the game where his family would be sitting but he did not get a chance to meet them before the team flew to Florida ahead of their next Group H match against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday. 

"I managed to look up and wave in their direction and I could see them waving back," he said.

"Then after the game, we were straight from the stadium to the airport back in Tampa that night."

Lopes continued: "We knew going into the game we'd be up against it; they'd have most of the ball and we'd have to be resolute in our defending and look, maybe hope that they had a bit of an off day in terms of firing at the goal.

"Thankfully our goalkeeper Vozinha, he was amazing and he deserves all the plaudits at 40 years of age and putting in performances like that.

"I think to a man, defensively, we were very, very good and probably deserved that point. From an attacking point of view, we probably only showed a bit of danger towards the end when the subs came on - they really helped us get through the game."

Lopes said he is not usually the type to swap jerseys after a game but has changed his outlook for the World Cup. 

"I think I've had a word with myself in this tournament and I said, 'do you know what? I'm going to break that sort of rule' and I looked to swap the striker Oyarzabal's jersey. My defensive counterpart got there before me and after that, I was like, 'look, it wasn't meant to be'. 

"To be fair, I think that Cape Verde jersey, my first ever at the World Cup, that'll be going back to Kilnamanagh with me, so I'm really glad that I didn't swap it."