Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 20
Cape Verde Leans on 40-Year-Old Vozinha Against Uruguay After 0-0 Spain Draw
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 20

Cape Verde Leans on 40-Year-Old Vozinha Against Uruguay After 0-0 Spain Draw

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 20

Summary

  • Sunday’s match with Uruguay will test whether Cape Verde can turn its scoreless World Cup debut against Spain into a push for the knockout stage.
  • Vozinha — 40-year-old goalkeeper Josimar Dias — is central to that hope after making seven saves in the 0-0 draw that made him an unlikely star.
  • Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks earned that result with a defense-first plan, concentrating on protecting their goal rather than committing numbers forward.
  • The challenge remains steep in a group that also includes European champion Spain, two-time World Cup winner Uruguay and rising Saudi Arabia.

Insights

After shocking Spain, can Cape Verde’s defensive wall hold firm against two-time world champion Uruguay this Sunday?
Is Cape Verde's disciplined defense a revolutionary tactic for underdogs, or will their luck run out in the group stage?