Cape Verde Defender: We will go all out to beat Spain, anything can happen

According to Sport, 25-year-old Villarreal center-back Logan Costa will be one of the defensive mainstays for Cape Verde's opening FIFA World Cup match against Spain. Despite only playing two games this season due to a serious knee injury, he is still expected to be a team leader.

Cape Verde performed admirably in the African qualifiers, directly securing a FIFA World Cup berth by topping their group, ahead of strong teams like Cameroon. This island nation, which only gained independence from Portugal in 1975, has thus entered the radar of more football fans. On June 15, they will face Luis de la Fuente's Spanish team at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

"I'm in great shape, and so is the whole team. We're happy to be here and hope to have a great tournament. It's incredible to participate in the FIFA World Cup for the first time; I don't even know what to say. There's no better way to start than against Spain in the first game. We'll give our all, and it will be like any other match," the Saint-Denis-born player told the media during a training session with Cape Verde's 'Blue Sharks'. He is no stranger to this kind of game.

In the summer of 2024, Villarreal spotted his potential in France and brought him to La Liga for 18 million euros. Over the past two seasons, he has also faced Spanish players multiple times. "I don't know all of them, but I know some," he said, indicating he could at least offer some advice to his defensive teammates.

When asked if they could beat Spain, Logan Costa's attitude was clear: "This is a game where we have to give everything. Anything can happen, and we will fight with all our might for victory." Cape Verde is one of the weakest teams in this FIFA World Cup, and Group H, besides Spain, also includes Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

Therefore, just qualifying is already a huge achievement for these players. Regardless of the final outcome, they have already made history. "It's a wonderful thing, absolutely great. We can't describe in words everything we've experienced. I remember the most special day was the day we qualified. The whole country was celebrating as if it were a festival," Logan Costa concluded, hoping the team can extend their dream beyond the group stage.

Even if they lose to Spain, as long as the score difference isn't too large, Cape Verde still has hope of remaining in the FIFA World Cup. The truly crucial match is against Saudi Arabia; if they can control the goal difference, they still have a chance to advance to the Round of 16 as a third-place team.