Cape Verde draw with Spain 'the stuff of dreams' - Lopes

The central part played by a League of Ireland defender in Cape Verde's stunning draw against Spain led to the result being celebrated almost as much in Dublin as by the less than half a million inhabitants of the archipelagic country off the coast of West Africa.

>Shamrock Rovers centre-back Roberto 'Pico' Lopes produced a commanding display as the World Cup debutants secured a deserved 0-0 draw against Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites, in their Group H opener in Atlanta.

>After playing a starring role in one of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup history, the 33-year-old said: "To get a point and a clean sheet in our first game in a World Cup against a team like Spain was amazing.

>"It's a very happy moment for us against one of the best teams in the world and I'm very proud of this group.

>"It was definitely a surreal moment. After the game I felt a little bit lost. I was just looking for my family and wanting to share that moment with them, but then afterwards it was like, 'what just happened there?'"

>The third-smallest country in terms of population to qualify for a World Cup, Cape Verde were 67th in Fifa's latest rankings and many expected them to be swept aside by the Euro 2024 winners.

>Spain were however unable to find a way past inspired 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who kept them at bay with numerous fine saves and narrowly edged out Lopes in the BBC player ratings poll for player of the match.

>"We knew going into the game that we'd be up against it and they'd have most of the ball and we would have to be resolute in our defending and hope that they maybe would have a bit of an off day in terms of firing at the goal," explained Lopes.

>"Our goalkeeper was amazing and he deserves all the plaudits. Forty years of age and putting in performances like that. I think to a man defensively we were very, very good, and probably deserved a point from that point of view

>"From an attacking perspective we probably only showed that bit of danger near the end and the subs that came on really got us through the game."

>The Cape Verde defender said earning a precious point against one of the powerhouses of world football was some time in the planning.

>"The performance is something we have worked on over the past few weeks and we got our just rewards.

>"To get a point against a team like that just shows why we love the game.

>"This is the stuff of dreams for me and it's a pleasure and an absolute privilege to live my dream.

Rovers fans 'immensely proud'Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday morning, Ciaran Stafford of the Pride of Ringsend Shamrock Rovers Supporters' Club, expressed something of the delight felt by fans of Lopes' club after his heroic display against the European champions.

>"It was an incredible evening, and we went to the pub to watch it and just to see Pico play. To see him play at that level against that calibre of player and to hold his own, we are immensely proud of him," said Stafford.

>"He's probably been the best centre-back in the league for the best part of six or seven seasons now and in that time he has played close to 60 European games, he has played against the likes of [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Sadio Mane, so he has had a taste of what that kind of level is like.

>"Considering some of the players we've seen him play against in Europe in recent years I'm not surprised.

>"His performance, some of those last-ditch challenges, that last-ditch challenge in the 88th minute just epitomised Pico and epitomised the team's performance last night."

The 40-year-old keeper who inspired Cape Verde's historic debut • >Dublin-born Cape Verde star recruited on LinkedIn gets World Cup chance • >Lopes 'living out a dream' at World Cup - GraceLopes 'a massive part' of securing drawSpain came into the game as heavy favourites but the spirit and ability shown by Lopes, who has played for Shamrock Rovers since 2017, and his team-mates proved enough to pull off a major shock.

>"I think everyone expected it to be a walk in the park for the Spanish, understandably," added Stafford.

>"I think what Pico showed was his strength, his organisational skills have always been excellent, and for a team to keep their shape and discipline for as long as they did yesterday is a credit to them and I reckon he was a massive part of that.

>"He also showed his fitness level, not only physically but mentally, to be tuned in. Yes, they rode their luck at times, but when you're playing the reigning European champions, you're going to have to ride your luck at times."

>Born in Dublin to a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother, the ex-Bohemians player is the first League of Ireland player to participate in a World Cup finals match.

>He made his debut for the country in 2019, having previously made one appearance for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s in 2011.

>After his move to Shamrock Rovers and with the club competing in the Champions League and Europa League, Lopes received a message on his LinkedIn profile from the then-Cape Verde manager Rui Aguas that set the ball rolling.

>"Everyone knows his story, it's probably the most talked about story in history at this stage with the whole Linkedin thing. I would say he is probably sick of telling people the story," said Stafford.

>"He's a fantastic ambassador for the league, he's the chairperson for the Footballers' Association here, so he does great stuff off the pitch as well as on the pitch."

>Cape Verde's remaining two Group H fixtures will see them take on Uruguay on Sunday 21 June (23:00 BST) and Saudi Arabia on Saturday 27 June (01:00).

>"The feeling here is that yesterday's result should spur them on even more and they should only build on that.

>"It might be difficult to replicate that kind of work-rate in those games, and that discipline, but if they can do it against a team that good I don't see why they can't do it in their remaining two games."

Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game • >World Cup fixtures and group standings • >How to watch the World Cup on the BBC • >Everything you need to know about the World Cup