Cape Verdean family, at the 2010 World Cup he scored the goal of Switzerland’s victory over Spain. “The Federation is good at creating structures, training players and coaches”
If you were born in Cape Verde you have very little chance of beating Spain. Vozinha and the others did a feat to get Atlanta 0-0, but they didn’t win. Gelson Fernandes yes, he did it 16 years ago at the World Cup in South Africa, freezing the team that would go on to win the World Cup on their debut: 1-0 in Durban wearing the Switzerland shirt, the land that raised him. But his place of birth and his family are all from Praia, the capital of the archipelago of magic.
Gelson, would you have imagined that history could somehow repeat itself in America?
“Honestly no, I was surprised like everyone else. But Cape Verde deserved what it got, because it defended very well and prevented Spain from scoring.”
How do you explain this miracle?
“With work. Football has changed, it has become a global phenomenon that facilitates exchanges. The federation has been good at scouting, in creating structures, in training players and coaches. Nothing happens by chance: the team had already demonstrated in the qualifiers that it was capable of a World Cup.”
The difficult thing will be to confirm and perhaps get through to the next round.
“You never know. But however it ends, it rewards a people who were able to be proud of their nation.”
And if you were to meet your Switzerland, who would you support?
“For no one, my heart is divided in half. I would be happy anyway.”
Goalkeeper Vozinha is exactly his age and is living the dream.
“I’m happy for him. He’s not the only footballer still playing at 40: look at Ronaldo, Modric… I made other choices and I’m happy like that.”
He is in America in the dual role of FIFA regional director of the national teams and deputy manager of the African federations. Some are doing very well.
“Yes, in addition to Cape Verde, Morocco is impressing. And then the Democratic Republic of Congo, which drew with Portugal. The movement is growing: a question of planning.”
Algeria has sent a protest to FIFA over the refereeing of the Polish Marciniak against Argentina.
“Every federation has the right to express its point of view. We are in a democracy, right?”.
Let’s go back to 2010: what do you remember about that goal against Spain?
“A strong emotion, even an unexpected one. And a result that was useful to Switzerland.”
After the South African World Cup he arrived in Italy.
“An experience that I always remember with pleasure. At Chievo, which with the work of Sergio Pellissier will rise to the higher categories, and at Udinese, where I left some good friends.”
Those with Chievo and Udinese were experiences that I always remember with pleasure
When will we see Italy again at the World Cup?
“Hopefully soon. Miss football.”
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