Coach Bubista hails Cape Verde's 'fearless dreamers' after World Cup leap

Cape Verde coach Bubista entered his press conference draped in his nation's flag, tasked with articulating how one of football's smallest nations had reached the World Cup knockout stages on their first attempt. A 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia completed their group stage journey with three stalemates, earning them three points and a nervous wait for Spain to defeat Uruguay to secure passage.

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I'm proud of what they've achieved. To finish the first phase without losing a single match, we have to be pleased. It was down to organisation and team spirit.

Bubista described the achievement not as a fairytale, but as a result of hard work, discipline, and a refusal to buckle under pressure. "I'm proud of what they've achieved," the former defender stated. "To finish the first phase without losing a single match, we have to be pleased. It was down to organisation and team spirit."

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It's a bit of a shock, although we'd always had it in mind that we might reach this stage after the first two matches.

Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockouts, finished second in Group H, setting up a Round of 32 meeting with holders Argentina. "It's a bit of a shock, although we'd always had it in mind that we might reach this stage after the first two matches," Bubista admitted. "The team was really keen to show the whole world what we're made of; we were proud of what we'd already achieved. We're a small country, but we fight for what we want to achieve. For us, nothing is impossible."

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The team was really keen to show the whole world what we're made of; we were proud of what we'd already achieved. We're a small country, but we fight for what we want to achieve. For us, nothing is impossible.

The coach identified the team's unity and resilience as the key factors in their success, alongside strong organization and a fearless approach. He highlighted the mental strength required to depend on another match's result, praising his squad's incredible character. Bubista also emphasized the dignity that comes from hard work, stating that all players understood the importance of their daily efforts and that the reward was now evident for the people of Cape Verde to be proud of.

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The key? Our team's unity and resilience. We've always talked about our organisation, but also about our determination to do things without fear.