All posts tagged: Cape Verde Spain draw

Duarte brothers, Cape Verde’s midfield engine that helmed the team against Argentina

Duarte brothers, Cape Verde’s midfield engine that helmed the team against Argentina

Published by Webster

4 min readJul 4, 2026 02:40 PM IST It could have been the greatest night for the Duarte family, but will now carry with it a bittersweet feeling. Brothers taking the field together in a FIFA World Cup game is a special occasion and it was no different for Cape Verde’s Deroy and Laros Duarte against world champions Argentina in Miami on Friday. The brothers had seen action in every one of their group games, but either one or both had come off the bench. But against Lionel Messi & Co, coach Bubista saw it fit to start both brothers in midfield. The evening gained even more lustre when Deroy found Cape Verde’s first equaliser at about the hour mark, nutmegging not one but two Argentines, including goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The brothers didn’t stay on the pitch till the end of the game – Laros coming off in the 67th minute, when the game was still locked 1-1, and Deroy in the 100th, when the manager brought on Yannick Semedo to chase yet another leveller …

How four little-known goalkeepers became unlikely stars of the 2026 World Cup

How four little-known goalkeepers became unlikely stars of the 2026 World Cup

Published by Webster

5 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026 03:24 PM IST The goals have the names. The saves have the stories. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the headlines, the Golden Boot race well and truly on. But while the superstars chase goals, little-known goalkeepers have been stealing moments of their own. Cape Verde, World Cup debutants, have their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha to thank for two draws against European champions Spain and Uruguay. Curacao, also making their first appearance, owe their 0-0 draw with Ecuador to Eloy Room. The 37-year-old entered the record books with 15 saves, the joint most at a single World Cup match. Iran’s Alireza Beirvanvand produced the save of the tournament so far. He found himself on the ground after attempting to cut off a cross from the left, but miraculously extended his left palm to deny Belgium’s Maxim de Cuyper from close range. Vozinha, Room, Beirvanvand. Add to that list Congo’s Lionel Mpasi. Colombia arrived for their Group K game against Congo having beaten Uzbekistan 3-1 in …