Cape Verde, who managed to stop Spain and Uruguay in their World Cup debut, are aiming to reach the knockout stages with a win against Saudi Arabia.
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Cape Verde coach Bubista is so enthusiastic that he now claims that his team's goal is to reach the knockout stages.
Cape Verde's ambitions have increased after their second group match against Uruguay drew 2-2. Cape Verde, who are making their World Cup debut, held a team as good as Spain to a goalless draw in their first match.
The team, ranked 63rd in the FIFA world rankings, will face Saudi Arabia in their final match of Group 'H'. A win there would make Cape Verde's dream of playing in the knockout stages come true. "We have been saying from the beginning that our aim is to play at the highest level possible. That is what we have worked hard for," says Bubista. "The results of the last two matches were also played with that mentality. More important for us than the results of these matches is to send a message that Cape Verde can play as a team. It has also proven that the team has both unity and strength. Now we have started to weave a new dream, which is to enter the knockout stage.’
Coach Bubista also believes that it is natural and logical to think so. He says, ‘Our respect for the opposition team will never decrease. Now we are in a position from which we can play for the second round.’
Even before facing Uruguay, Bubista had claimed that his team would try to play as well as possible without any fear.
The team’s performance remained the same. Cape Verde took the lead with the help of Kevin Pina’s excellent free-kick. But later in the game, they were 2-1 behind. At that time, Helio Varela scored the decisive equalizer. Bubista claims, ‘We want to show the whole world that now we are playing for the second round. This is what is on our minds now.’
