People's Daily Commentary: Cape Verde's Every Minute on the Pitch Etches the Tenacity of the 'Underdog' Breaking Shackles

Cape Verde bid farewell to this World Cup after a 2:3 loss to defending champion Argentina. But they walked off with their heads held high in glory. Twice they stubbornly pulled level, battling through extra time until the very last moment — an unequivocal demonstration of what it means to be honorable in defeat. Goalkeeper Vozinha was heroic throughout, delivering one jaw-dropping save after another that stunned the global audience and moved countless fans. As one netizen put it: Argentina won the match, but Cape Verde conquered the world.

As the first team in history to reach the World Cup finals for the first time, Cape Verde single-handedly secured its status as the tournament's biggest dark horse. Fans jokingly called them "Cape Verde — The Foot of Fate" (a play on words in Chinese), teasing but with deep respect. From drawing three group-stage matches against formidable opponents to fighting until the final second of the knockout round, this team used every minute of running on the pitch to etch the stubborn resilience of the underdog breaking free from constraints.

The curtain fall is never the end. Salute to the courage that presses forward without looking back, salute to the perseverance that pushes to the absolute limit, salute to every relentless effort that refuses to settle for mediocrity. We look forward to this Cape Verde team, which has already made its mark on the world stage, continuing to write legendary chapters as they gallop across the global football arena.