Cape Verde’s World Cup fairytale continues
Apparently the big World Cup surprise in Cape Verde doesn’t work without family history. After the 0-0 draw against European champions Spain, half the world kept their fingers crossed that the mother of goalkeeper hero Vozinha would receive a visa for the USA. After the no less emotional 2:2 (1:2) against two-time world champion Uruguay, defensive player Kevin Pina told a touching story. Read more about this here.
Fernández: At 15 he wrote a letter to Messi – today he plays alongside him
When Enzo Fernández was 15 years old, he published a letter to his great idol on Facebook Lionel Messi. The exceptional Argentine footballer resigned from the national team after the 2016 Copa América final defeat against Chile – and the young Enzo tried to persuade him to change his mind with emotional words.
“Do what you want, Lionel, but please consider staying. Stay and have fun,” the current midfield star wrote in his letter at the time. He apologized to Messi for the pressure the whole country had put on him. “You in the Albiceleste Watching them play is the greatest pride in the world. Play for fun because you can’t imagine how much fun we have when you’re having fun.”
Messi returned to the national team, found his fun again and led the Albiceleste to the World Cup title in 2022 – with Fernández at his side. “Yes, I often think back to the letter,” said Fernández when asked before today’s second World Cup group game in the Dallas Stadium against Austria (7 p.m. CEST/ARD and MagentaTV). “And I think today I would write even more emotionally because I share so many memories and experiences with him,” said the professional Chelsea FC: “I think today I need books to express everything we experienced together, what I learned from him.”
Racist slogans at public viewing – police investigate
The police are investigating after allegedly racist and anti-Semitic comments at the public viewing of the World Cup game between Germany and Ivory Coast. A 40-year-old man is said to be watching the football game at night before shopping late Prenzlauer Berg made racist statements about national players and the referee and made a right-wing extremist gesture, the police said.
