A 48-team World Cup is not perfect in a number of ways – but Cape Verde have been perhaps the strongest rebuttal against complaints about the competition’s expansion.
Opening the tournament with a goalless draw against hotly-tipped European champions Spain was one of the most pleasant surprises of the tournament so far. Their subsequent 2-2 draw with Uruguay was just as credible, and has now given them a real chance of making it through to the knockout stage.
But not if Saudi Arabia have anything to say about it.
After the fun of the first couple of weeks’ action, the third and final set of World Cup group stage fixtures has been a bit of a disappointment: not enough at stake, too many games where mutually convenient results are possible and inevitably enacted.
This game could be an exception to that. A draw definitely wouldn’t be enough for Saudi Arabia, who sit bottom of the table with one point. Only a defeat for Marcelo Bielsa’s side against Spain in the other group game would mean a draw would be likely to be enough Cape Verde.
That means that unless Spain open up a commanding lead early, both sides are going to have to go for it in the Group H closer, which is due to kick off at NRG Stadium in Houston at 7pm local time (1am UK time).
That gives both side a different kind of challenge to what they have faced so far this tournament, and makes it very difficult to call.
Cape Verde showed last time out that they can offer more than just holding on to try and keep a clean sheet and nick a victory.
They went ahead midway through the first half against Uruguay through Kevin Pina, before Helio Varela equalised on the break after an hour.
Saudi Arabia likewise went ahead in their opener against Uruguay, only to end up sharing the spoils late on. A much more convincing looking Spain outfit smashed them 4-0, with the Saudis offering almost nothing in response.
That means we’re leaning slightly towards Cape Verde to show their trademark determination again and get the job done here.
- Score prediction: Cape Verde 2-1 Saudi Arabia
