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Cape Verde’s Laros and Deroy Duarte have reflected on the unforgettable occasion when they faced Spain’s prodigy Lamine Yamal during their historic World Cup draw. Despite Yamal’s reputation as Barcelona’s rising star, the brothers revealed they were never intimidated by his presence on the pitch.

Overcoming the Yamal aura

The Rotterdam-born siblings were central to the action in Atlanta as the World Cup debutants earned a point that reverberated across the footballing world. While many defenders dread the sight of Yamal entering the game, Deroy Duarte explained that his team had a clear plan to stop the teenager from making an impact.

“You hear all those fans cheering and you can sense from his aura that a top player is coming on,” Deroy told ESPN. “But as soon as he touched the ball, our left-back and left-winger went straight at him. And we knew: today he’s not going to do anything.”

Indeed, Yamal’s introduction with 20 minutes to go could not inspire Spain to break through Cape Verde’s disciplined defence. The Blue Sharks maintained their structure and determination, leaving Spain’s attack looking unusually ineffective throughout the match.

A family moment on football’s biggest stage

For Laros and Deroy, the goalless draw was a deeply emotional milestone. Laros started the game and was replaced by his brother after an hour, a moment that carried both pride and mixed emotions. “That was a bit crazy; ideally, you want to be on the pitch together, but we always support each other. From the moment I came off, I became a spectator, and then the tension really starts,” Laros recalled. “On the field, you don’t fully realise it. When the whistle blows, it’s a celebration.”

The importance of the result was clear in the stands, especially for the brothers’ parents. “We saw our parents crying,” they said after the match. “It’s hard to describe the feeling—it’s something you dream about.”

Even veteran goalkeeper Vozinha was moved to tears after the final whistle, having earned his 90th international cap in the same game.

Respecting the world’s elite

Despite their self-belief, the Duarte brothers were quick to acknowledge the immense quality of Spain’s squad. Facing global stars like Rodri and Pedri gave them a first-hand appreciation of the highest level of football. “When someone turns away or plays a beautiful pass, you think: this is world-class,” they admitted. Yet their underdog mentality grew stronger after seeing Curacao suffer a 7-1 defeat to Germany the night before.

“You realise: that could have been us. But once the match started, we were sharp right away. I looked at the clock, saw 20 minutes had passed, and things were going smoothly. From that point, I knew: we can actually get something here,” Laros explained.

Chasing knockout dreams

With a valuable point already secured in Group H, Cape Verde are no longer satisfied with merely participating. The result has boosted expectations for the African side as they prepare for upcoming fixtures. The Duarte brothers believe this is only the start of their journey in North America, despite critics who doubted them before the tournament began. “We can go and fight for more. Everyone gave us little chance, but we’ve always believed we can advance,” they said.

After holding one of the tournament favourites, the Blue Sharks have every reason to dream big as they turn their attention to crucial matches against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in their quest for a place in the knockout stages.

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