Kaapwerdy delights the world and gains recognition from international media

Kaapwerdy won the hearts of fans around the world on Friday night, even though their adventure at the World Championships was over. World champions Argentina were forced to fight hard, which attracted international media attention on Saturday morning. The BBC emphasizes that 'Diney Borges' own goal in the 111th minute saved Argentina from one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history.' The team ranked 64th in the FIFA rankings twice came from behind against the second-placed team. There was a celebratory atmosphere in Miami, with thousands of fans cheering for Argentina. They seemed set to take control when Lionel Messi showed his magic in the 29th minute, but the smallest country in the history of the World Cup knockout stage was not going to give up easily. Kaapwerdy has definitely left its mark on this tournament. The Guardian reports: 'Kaapwerdy came close to a historic surprise before Argentina broke hearts in a World Cup classic.' It was a real battle, a show of strength and dignity from a small island nation that brought Argentina to the brink of one of Miami's biggest sporting surprises. After the final whistle, the Argentine players fell to their knees and the stands exploded again with relief and joy. The 3-2 victory means Argentina will now face Egypt in Atlanta. However, it was Kaapwerda's players who grabbed the attention, still ready to fight even though their World Cup adventure ended after the most dramatic match in history.  The Portuguese newspaper A Bola begins with the words: 'The end of one of the most beautiful stories of the World Cup.' Kaapwerdy showed extraordinary determination, tactical precision, technique and a strong mentality that allowed them to recover after each conceded goal. La Gazzetta dello Sport notes: 'It was not the Hand of God that broke the Kaapwerdy, but the Hand of Diney,' referring to the own goal. Kaapwerdy leaves the World Cup with the dignity of a country that had a fantastic time. They were drawn in their group with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia... and almost beat Argentina. In the FOX Sports studio, Zlatan Ibrahimovic couldn't contain his admiration for Kaapwerda. 'Applause for Kaapwerda. This was their story, a small island with big dreams, they almost defeated a giant. They are heroes. The world didn't believe they had a chance, but they did.' 'Their achievement will go down in history. It's not about Argentina or Lionel Messi, but about Kaapwerda. They almost made it... that's football.' --- ## Related Articles 1. [WK 2026: goedkoopste tickets per speelstad — vanaf $310 voor groepsduels](https://oranjenet.live/nl/news/wk-2026-goedkoopste-tickets-per-speelstad-vanaf-310-voor-groepsduels) 2. [World Cup 2026](https://torcidanet.live/pt/news/jules-kounde-commenta-sobre-as-declaracoes-de-lamine-yamal-antes-de-um-possivel-semifinal-de-copa-do-mundo-ele-fala-o-que-pensa)