Cape Verde made soccer history on Friday by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup round of 32 after securing a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia.
The nation of just over 500,000 people advanced from Group H to set up a knockout stage match against defending champions Argentina on July 3rd in Miami.
As reported by sportsnet. ca and espn.
com, Cape Verde became the first team since Chile in 1998 to progress past the group stage using three consecutive draws.
Manager Bubista relied on organized defensive play from goalkeeper Vozinha and center-backs Diney Borges and Roberto Lopes, alongside midfielder Kevin Pina, to seal second place in the group while Spain took the top spot after defeating Uruguay 1-0.
In Group I, France secured a 4-1 victory over Norway in Boston under assistant coach Guy Stéphan, who stepped in following the death of head coach Didier Deschamps' mother.
Ousmane Dembélé recorded a first-half hat-trick for Les Bleus, while Norway manager Stale Solbakken chose to rest key players Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard since a round of 32 spot against Ivory Coast was already secured.
"Honestly, I couldn't care too much about that," said Haaland. "We managed to get through (to the knockout round), which is incredible.
I couldn't care too much about that game (vs. France). They're probably going to win against us.
They're probably going to win the whole tournament."
Norway's management prioritized athlete health over the Group I final standings after a demanding schedule.
"A no-brainer.
Both (on) my part and from the physio, health and medical department, and from some of the players themselves," said Solbakken.
"The only consideration was for the Norway fans. They would have wanted to see Erling and Martin play.
We did a summary after the Senegal game and five or six players (were) very affected after 80 minutes.
The entire defensive line and one or two midfielders."
Meanwhile, Senegal guaranteed their own advancement from Group I by defeating Iraq 5-0 in Toronto.
Habib Diarra scored in the fourth minute before second-half substitutes Pape Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, and Nicolas Jackson sparked a four-goal surge against a ten-man Iraqi squad, making Senegal the first African nation to score five goals in a single World Cup match.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Egypt finished second in Group G following a 1-1 draw with Iran, while Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-5.
Ghana has also been assured a spot in the knockout rounds ahead of their final Group L match against Croatia on Saturday, which runs parallel to upcoming fixtures featuring Congo DR against Uzbekistan and Algeria against Austria.
