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Cape Verde coach Bubista targets World Cup last 32 as debutants chase knockout qualification after draws with Spain and Uruguay.
Bubista waves to supporters after the draw against Uruguay (Picture credit: AP)
Cape Verde coach Pedro Brito, commonly known as Bubista, has said that his team would like to compete at the highest possible level and he is glad that they are doing so, adding that although they respect all teams, given the current standings, they would look to fight for qualification to the knockouts.
The FIFA World Cup debutants from the tiny Atlantic archipelago are now within touching distance of a place in the last 32 after backing up their brilliant opening draw against Spain with another hard-earned point against Uruguay.
Cape Verde, ranked 63rd in the world, will head into their final Group H match against Saudi Arabia knowing that a win will bag passage into the next round.
“Since the beginning, what we have been saying is that we would like to compete at the highest possible level and that is what we are trying to do. That is what we have been doing in these two matches and more important than the result is to be able to show our identity as a team, our strength, our unity and also our resilience,” Bubista said.
“We are here to compete to try to achieve a new dream, which is to qualify for the second round and I think it is legitimate to think that way. We have the utmost respect for all of our opponents…but we are now at a point of saying yes, we will definitely fight for qualification,” Bubista added.
The coach had promised before Sunday’s match that his team would play ‘without fear’ against Uruguay.
They lived up to their promise, taking the lead through a brilliant free-kick from Kevin Pina before battling back from 2-1 down, with Helio Varela finding the equaliser and helping bag a valuable draw.
Cape Verde take on Saudi Arabia on Saturday, June 27, at 5:30 am IST.
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