Cape Verde Hero Responds to Rodri: "It's normal to feel dissatisfied..."

Diney Borges, one of the leaders of the Blue Sharks, spoke about Cape Verde's historic World Cup participation just hours after the African nation pulled off the tournament's first major upset against Spain, holding them to a goalless draw. The central defender, who plays for Al Bataeh, believes the team's performance will change international perceptions of his country.

"I think people look at us with a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. We are an exotic country, one that few know in depth. Well... few knew us before the game against Spain," the defender stated, emphasizing that what was a major stumble for La Roja was a dream come true for Cape Verde: "Now, I believe people will start to get to know us and become more interested in our nation and the quality we possess here. The fact that we've already put Cape Verde on the world football map was a huge victory for us. But we are ambitious and we want more."

Regarding the strategy against Spain, Diney Borges was pragmatic. "We knew we had to be a humble team. We had to be prepared to suffer and be intelligent in seeking the opponent's goal with the few opportunities we had," he said, praising the group's unity. "You saw a very united team on the field. Defensively, we played an almost impeccable game. We maintained our energy and faith until the end."

The central defender also downplayed Rodri's criticisms, who complained about Cape Verde's defensive approach. "He is one of the great players in world football, and we all respect him. It's normal to feel dissatisfied after a game you want to win. We were fair and played to our strengths," he argued, explaining the necessity of a pragmatic approach. "If you play toe-to-toe against any of those national teams, you risk suffering a lot."

Despite the defensive display, Diney insists his team isn't just reactive. "Contrary to what many might think, we are not a defensive team. We have quality with the ball and enjoy playing attacking football, but in a World Cup, you have to be smart," he affirmed, already looking ahead to the next challenges. "We cannot underestimate Saudi Arabia or Uruguay. They are two very strong teams and will be favorites against us."

Goalkeeper Vozinha was another standout figure, and Diney was full of praise. "He is an inspiration to all of us. He is a true role model for all young Cape Verdeans and a real leader for us," he said, extending recognition to other talents from the country. "There is a lot of quality in this group and also among other Cape Verdean footballers who, for one reason or another, are not here with us."

With 30 international caps and a career that has taken him through Portugal (Marítimo and Estoril) and Morocco, Diney knows the World Cup could open new doors, but his focus remains on the national team. "I know several offers are already reaching my agents, but my future now is to think about the national team," he concluded with a smile. "If possible, the later the better... because that would mean we've gone far in the tournament."