Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha said a lifelong ambition had been fulfilled after he starred in his team's historic World Cup debut, helping them draw 0-0 with Spain.
The 40-year-old produced seven saves in Atlanta, repeatedly denying the European champions as Cape Verde held on for a point against one of the tournament favorites. After the final whistle, Vozinha was overcome with emotion.
"I've worked my whole life for this moment—for this dream," he said in a post-match interview. "So many generations dreamed of reaching this stage and didn't get here. Now it's finally happened."
Vozinha has been Cape Verde's first-choice goalkeeper for 14 years, and he credited the result to the team's belief and effort. "We're happy, but we also feel we deserve to be here," he said. "To get a result against Spain, one of the best teams in the world, makes it even more special."
Spain entered the match ranked second in the world, sitting 61 places above Cape Verde in the FIFA standings. Even after Spain introduced attacking options such as Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Nico Williams, Cape Verde stayed organized and resilient.
Substitute Deroy Duarte said the team reacted immediately to Yamal's introduction, insisting they didn't allow the teenager space to influence the game. "You could sense a serious player was coming on," Duarte said, "but from his first touch, we closed him down. We felt he wasn't going to get going today."
Head coach Bubista, who has been in charge since 2020, said the draw showed Cape Verde can compete at the highest level. "It means everything," he said. "People saw our organization, courage, and resilience. Spain may have controlled the ball, but we controlled the match in a different way—with discipline."
The point leaves Cape Verde well placed in Group H. A victory in either of their remaining fixtures could be enough to reach the knockout stage. They face Uruguay on June 21, then Saudi Arabia on June 27.
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