Cape Verde becomes World Cup Cinderella Story

Half a world away from the islands of Cape Verde. Excitement over the country's Cinderella World Cup run is spilling well beyond its shores. It feels surreal it feels like was still like dreaming. The tiny island nation with a population of only about half a million people playing in its first World Cup ever and making waves stunning tournament favorite Spain in a scoreless draw. Then coming from behind against 2 time World Cup champ your way forcing another tie Cape Verde's coach through an interpreter speaking about the magical start of this country may be small may struggle financially, but if they are resilient if they can endure struggle. They can also stand shoulder to shoulder with other major teams for breakout star goalie von Zena Sunday's match came with an extra reason to celebrate his mother finally in the stadium after securing a U.S. visa watching her son defend the net on the World Cup stage to hear that for me it's something special. Their supporters often outnumbered in the stands but never outmatched in spirit doesn't matter if it's 5 of us a 10 of us the spirit you see our fans in the stadium, you see our vibe so that shows people that shows way more than soccer shows we are even inspiring non-soccer fans including Cape Verdean American Brittany Garley and any time you travel elsewhere, it's like you have to explain who you are what you are where you're from and any time you would say Cabo Verde or a bird. He will be like well, what is that Garley wrote about why this moment is so much bigger than the sport, a lot of excitement and a lot of pride a lot of us feeling like we don't really need to explain who we are anymore. And it's not just Cape Verdeans feeling the fever as the team's World Cup fairytale grows so does its fan base, I think I'm in love with this country. I think I want to join it from Miami to Portugal and the Netherlands where you guys from. A global groundswell bonds in a becoming a social media sensation saying his instagram following is exploding from around 45,000 to more than 16 million tickets for Friday's match against Saudi Arabia skyrocketing from about $200 to more than 700. It's about celebrating culture, not only mine, but others I think we're all like learning and engaging and connecting and exchanging the blue sharks nickname for the predators in the water surrounding Cape Verde and not to strengthen courage touching down in Houston with their sights set on the spot in the knockout round. We're going to meet Mister Massey at Miami and we're going That history now within reach as Cape Verde's remarkable run seems far from finish. Yeah, I don't know that messy climate that that those are fighting worse there, you know, it's kind of like the Jamaican bobsled team, everybody's room for these guys Priscilla and the game big game is tomorrow. So what will it take for Cape Verde to advance to the knockout round. Yeah, it's all break it down for folks who may be unfamiliar with the World Cup all of these teams play in groups they play against each other and the top 2 teams make it to the knockout round when it gets you 3 points a tie gets you one point and of course a loss gets you 0 points so right now Cape Verde has 2 ties to 2 points same as your way and so if they beat Saudi Arabia, they could make it to the knockout round, but even if they tie they could potentially still make it depending on how the other games go so a lot to watch Tom now it's a great story for some Thompson great story. Thank you very much.