According to Fox Sports, Schmeichel compared Cape Verde's underdog story to Leicester City's triumph in 2016.

At the 2026 World Cup, this underdog has advanced to the Round of 32 and will face defending champions Argentina in the Round of 16. As a Fox Sports commentator, Schmeichel said Cape Verde's tenacity reminded him of the underdog stories he experienced in the Premier League.

The former Denmark and Leicester City goalkeeper recalled Cape Verde's inspiring story, saying: "You play without fear. You play for the joy of playing. I like that, especially in football—it's always 11 against 11 on the pitch, and anything can happen on the day. But for me, what really makes an underdog successful is culture. Culture is the hardest thing to build and the easiest thing to destroy. One wrong decision, one bad person, is enough to tear it all apart and ruin it."

Schmeichel was named Leicester City's Player of the Season twice, in 2016 and 2021, and also won Danish Player of the Year three times. In 2016, he and Leicester City won the Premier League at odds of 5000 to 1.

Cape Verde quickly became the center of attention after drawing 0-0 with Spain in their first World Cup match, with goalkeeper Vozinha making 7 saves during the match. Since their World Cup debut on June 15, Cape Verde has been attracting attention. Notably, Vozinha's social media followers increased by more than 14 million after his group stage performance.

Now, as the tournament's third-smallest participating nation, Cape Verde has made history for their country by securing a place in the Round of 32.

Schmeichel spoke about his Leicester City team: "Getting everyone pulling in the same direction—that's really the hardest part. For us, it was the connection between the club, the fans, everything coming together at the same time. It was the resonance of all these factors that made these incredible stories happen."

The 0-0 draw with Spain also drew attention to the market value difference between Cape Verde and Spain's squads. Cape Verde's total squad market value is €54.4 million, approximately $63.1 million USD. In contrast, Lamine Yamal alone is valued at €200 million, approximately $232.1 million USD.

For Schmeichel, passion and culture can completely overcome price tags. He said: "It's not always about money. There are many ways to win, and many ways to succeed. These underdog stories we see with Cape Verde are the essence of sport."

Traducido por IA.

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