Dublin-born defender’s display against Spain drew comparisons with Paul McGrath’s against Italy in 1994 but he says there is still room to improveRucksack on his back, Roberto “Pico” Lopes was standing on the corner of the narrow walkway way below the stands at the Atlanta stadium on Monday afternoon when the last of Spain’s players tried to make their way home. More than an hour after the final whistle had gone and they still couldn’t get past him, someone quipped. The centre-back from Crumlin reckoned he was “rusty” too here, yet he was at the heart of the greatest moment in Cape Verde’s history, one his coach claimed went far beyond football, and the kind of story only the World Cup can write.It had taken a little while and a word or two to realise it. In the final minute when Spain had their 11th and last corner, Lopes had looked at the clock and seen that it was close. He had heard the final whistle go, heard the roar as it was confirmed that Cape Verde had held on, undefeated on their tournament debut. He had seen the tears and celebration, family and friends in the stands, As he went down the tunnel he encountered Ray Houghton, scorer of the goal in New York when the Republic of Ireland defeated Italy 32 years ago, and embraced him. It was, he said, “lovely”, but what all this meant hadn’t entirely sunk in yet. Continue reading...
Paddy Power are offering 50/1 odds to new customers with its World Cup betting offer for Scotland to beat Haiti in their World Cup Group C opener in the early hours of Sunday morning. To claim the 50/1 enhanced odds on one of the best betting sites, new users must click one of the links in this article and create an account using the Paddy Power promo code YFBDHR. Customers must then deposit at least £5 via an eligible method and then bet £1 on Scotland to beat Haiti in the World Cup clash at the normal odds before kick-off at 2am BST on June 14.
In a super-sized edition that makes Australia a middle power their young squad can budget for four matches at the tournament with the hope of more⚽️ How to watch the Socceroos | Australia team guide⚽️ Guide to all 1,248 players | Bracketology | World CupThe selections, the sessions, the sweat left steaming on the Oakland grass. These are all now behind the Socceroos, as they fly to Vancouver to begin an adventure that comes around just once every four years.Australia’s best men’s footballers are back again at the World Cup, this time in a super-sized edition that makes a nation that was once a football underdog a middle power. Continue reading...
