History beckons for Pico as Ireland watches
BOB'S YOUR UNCLE: Roberto Lopes of Cabo Verde heads the ball clear against Spain. Pic: Andrew J. Clark/Sportsfile
History may be repeating for Pico Lopes at the World Cup. A win tonight over Saudi Arabia is needed for progression to the knockout stages and that task carries echoes of childhood dreams.
Basking in World Cup fever before the tournament, the Shamrock Rovers defender recalled a television being wheeled into his school classroom in 2002, with Ireland's vital group decider with the Saudis on the agenda.
Fellow Dub Damien Duff emerged as the hero of that hour and Lopes hopes the omens are positive for his Cape Verde side who need a win Friday night in Houston (1am Sat) to guarantee progression to the Round of 32.
Speaking ahead of the game with OTS Media, Lopes said: "Wouldn't it be amazing now if history repeated itself and that was the sort of win that took us to the next phase.
"It's a great opportunity for us and we can't get drawn in thinking that's going to be an easy game or a foregone conclusion. I think Saudi Arabia are a really good team. They have some real quality in the side that can hurt you. We won't be getting carried away yet. Just focus on the game at hand and hopefully we can get it done."
The romantic Lopes story has demanded international attention and Cape Verde have emerged as early darlings of the competition, with plucky draws against Spain and Uruguay already banked.
Fancied Spain top Group H with four points, while Uruguay also sit on two with Cape Verde. The Saudis have one point meaning any of the four teams can still qualify.
"The mood is good," Lopes added. "It's a final group game, but we're going into it with everything to play for.
"It's all in our hands, so we know what a win will do for progress to the next round, so we're really looking forward to just attacking the game from the start."
His head coach Bubista admitted the camp has had to reset their goals. “We’re here to compete to try to achieve a new dream, which is to qualify for the second round and I think it’s legitimate to think that way.”
Lopes accepts they have exceeded most people's expectations, and perhaps their own. "I wouldn't say expected but it's a position that we wanted to be in. We knew it would be difficult but we knew we could achieve it if we believed it.
"We knew the first two games would be very difficult. To pick up two points out of them was huge and it probably gives us that little bit of a lift going into the final game as well given the format of the competition."
With Ireland's conquerers Czechia, for some a proxy team at this World Cup, already on their way home, support from back home should only intensify for the Cape Verdeans
"I'm very aware. A lot of my friends, a lot of my family, send me stuff every day and it's incredible. I'm really overwhelmed with the support of Irish people.
"To really get behind it and back it and adopting nearly Cape Verde as a second country. I think someone mentioned the 33rd county. It's brilliant. I'm looking forward to thanking everyone when I am home."
Schools are out, so no classroom screenings, and the 1am kickoff time might dampen support somewhat, but probably not in Lopes' Crumlin estate, which organised a huge community send-off and street party before the competition.
"I suppose it's the least favourite kick-off time for Irish people. But I have to mention my neighbours in Ashling Close where I grew up.
"For the Uruguay game they managed to get a projector screen and they threw a blanket over the back wall of our house and watched it in the sort of patch of grass we have at the side of our house on the couches, which was great to see.
"I believe the weather is good in Ireland as well, so the hot nights make that a bit easier. Fair play to anyone who plans on staying up and watching it and hopefully we can make that worth it."
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