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.
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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.
