Cape Verde's FIFA World Cup dream began with a historic draw against Spain, and now they face an unforgettable match against Argentina. Right-back Sidney Lopes Cabral spoke to "AS" about the upcoming match, calling it a great honor to play against Messi, whom he considers the greatest player in football history.

Q: What are your thoughts on the match against Argentina? What's on your mind?

Lopes Cabral: This will be a very difficult match for us. The intensity will be high, and we'll be fully prepared for it.

Q: You drew consecutively against Spain and Uruguay and advanced to the knockout stage, becoming the tournament's biggest dark horse...

Lopes Cabral: That's absolutely right. Our whole team has worked hard. We're now full of confidence and believe we can perform well against Argentina and advance to the next round.

Q: What's the secret to your team's success? You've undoubtedly written a fairy tale at this FIFA World Cup.

Lopes Cabral: There's no secret. We're all like family and work together in everything. The team atmosphere is harmonious, and the players have a good understanding of each other.

Q: How did you feel after drawing with Spain?

Lopes Cabral: The joy was truly indescribable, and everyone on the team was absolutely thrilled. Before the official match started, we weren't overly nervous or anxious. We simply focused on our own performance, perfected our tactics, and strictly executed the game plan we had prepared. When the final whistle blew, we released all the pressure and just enjoyed the moment of celebration.

Q: You previously faced Lamine Yamal...

Lopes Cabral: He's a superstar—frankly, he's the best winger in the world right now, with exceptional skill. It's an honor to compete against him on the same pitch.

Q: Did you exchange shirts with an opponent after the Spain match?

Lopes Cabral: No.

Q: Will you try to get Messi's shirt in the Argentina match?

Lopes Cabral: No, I'm planning to exchange shirts with Otamendi. We're teammates at our club this season.

Q: What's the consensus in the dressing room about this match?

Lopes Cabral: All the players believe it's a great honor to play against Messi, the greatest player in football history. But right now, we're focused on ourselves—perfecting our style of play and thinking about how to approach this match. That's our main focus.

Q: Does the team have a specific strategy to limit Messi?

Lopes Cabral: We won't focus only on Messi; Argentina has more than just him. But without question, we need to mark him closely and find ways to restrict his impact.

Q: What's the mood like back in Cape Verde right now?

Lopes Cabral: Everyone is overjoyed, fully supporting us, and giving us tremendous encouragement.

Q: Your teammate Vozinha has become a social media sensation...

Lopes Cabral: He's exploded in popularity on social media, and I'm genuinely happy for him. He played brilliantly against Spain, and his account became hugely popular afterward—it was quite unexpected.

Q: Are there other players in the Argentina squad that you admire?

Lopes Cabral: Álvarez is a very threatening striker. Of course, there are many variables on the pitch, but I greatly admire Messi, Otamendi, Lautaro, and Enzo Fernández. To be honest, all the players in Argentina's team are excellent, and each one has outstanding individual ability.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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