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Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia: World Cup 2026 Preview
Cape Verde’s sensational goalless draw with Spain was all about the “Hand of Voz”, but they showed they can play a bit too in their topsy-turvy 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The Blue Sharks were even ahead for a bit, thanks to Kevin Pina’s no-nonsense thwack of a free-kick, and if there were an element of luck to Helio Varela’s equaliser, Cape Verde had certainly earned it by putting the jitters up the two-time world champions.
Bubista is going to have to shuffle his pack slightly for this Friday night clash, however, as Sidny Lopes Cabral is suspended. The Trabzonspor left-back was booked early on in both of Cape Verde’s previous games, and will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by utility man Joao Paulo.
Saudi Arabia gave as good as they got against Uruguay, but were blown away against Spain, falling to the sort of 4-0 defeat where they were lucky, as they say, to get nil.
Georgios Donis’ men carry a set-piece threat, which came off in their opener when centre-back Abdulelah Al-Amri found the net from a corner, but against La Roja they just weren’t able to get up the pitch enough to put it to any use. Remedy that against Cape Verde and Vozinha could be in for another busy night.
To finish second, the Green Falcons will need to win their final group game and hope that Uruguay don’t get the better of Spain. Four points, however, should be enough to make it through as one of the best third-placed teams.
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia: Group H
FourFourTwo’s prediction
Cape Verde 1-1 Saudi Arabia
FourFourTwo predicts an end-to-end affair marred by a lack of real quality up front.
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