One of the four new teams in the World Cup, along with Uzbekistan, Curaçao and Jordan, Cape Verde made history this Friday (26) and won a place in the 32-team phase, the first of the knockout stage.
The team of goalkeeper sensation Vozinha drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia and came second in Group H, with 3 points (three draws).
Lamine Yamal’s Spain confirmed their leadership of the group by beating Uruguay 1-0. In addition to qualifying for the knockout stage, the Hispanic team eliminated the sky-blue team from the North American World Cup.
The Spanish team will face Austria or Algeria on Thursday (2), at 4pm. The leader of Group H awaits the winner of the direct confrontation between the two teams for second place in Group J, this Saturday (27th), at 11pm.
In search of another historic result, Cape Verde will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina next Friday (3), at 7pm.
GROUP I
With the team fully reserve, Norway faced France, who did not spare any starters, for the lead in Group I of the World Cup. And they suffered a 4-1 defeat at the Boston stadium (USA).
Ousmane Dembélé stole the show with a hat-trick (three goals) and commanded the victory that consolidated the French at the top of the group. Top scorer Kylian Mbappé didn’t score this time. The teammates have four goals each in this World Cup.
With the result, they await the end of the round to find out their opponent in the 32nd stage – one of the eight best third-placed teams.
The Norwegians, who were in second place, have a duel scheduled against Ivory Coast, on Tuesday (30), at 2 pm. Whoever wins will face the Brazil x Japan qualifier.
In the other Group I clash, Senegal beat Iraq 5-0, got 3 points and reversed the negative balance from -3 to +2, improving its conditions to carve out a place among the eight best third-placed teams. At the end of the day, FIFA confirmed that the African team will go to the round of 32.
Group G
The four teams from Group G reached the last game of the first phase of the World Cup, in the early hours of Saturday (27), with a chance of qualifying for the 32nd round, the first of the knockout stages.
Two of them (Belgium and Egypt) were successful, and Iran can still secure its place as one of the best third-placed teams. Only New Zealand was eliminated.
Second in the group, Egypt drew 1-1 with Iran and will face Australia in the 32-team stage next Friday (3). The goals went to Saber, for Egypt, and Rezaeian, for Iran.
The winner of this duel will face the winner of Argentina x Cape Verde in the round of 16.
Belgium, who finished first after beating New Zealand 5-1, will have to wait for the outcome of the group stage to find out their rival in the knockout stage, who will be one of the best third-placed teams.
The Belgian goals were scored by Trossard (2), De Bruyne, Lukaku and Saelemaekers. Just cashed it for New Zealand.
