Roberto Lopes: The Irish-Born Defender Who Defied Spain for Cape Verde

Dublin-born Roberto Lopes, a product of Shamrock Rovers, delivered a masterclass at the heart of Cape Verde's defence as they held Spain to a historic 0-0 draw in their World Cup group stage opener. His performance drew comparisons to Paul McGrath's iconic display against Italy in 1994, but Lopes insisted there's room for improvement. The 33-year-old centre-back, nicknamed 'Pico', was a rock against a star-studded Spanish lineup, clearing corners and snuffing out attacks. Cape Verde's coach hail...