The Improbables · Nation to Glory

Take Cape Verde to Glory

“island upstarts”

The press pack calls Cape Verde half a million people, eleven very good footballers, and files them as island upstarts. The bookmakers put them in the improbables at 1000/1 and drifting.

▶ Play as Cape Verde

The bookmakers

The Improbables — 1000/1 and drifting

The federation's target

Compete with dignity — a point gets framed

Your spine, as your predecessor's notes describe it

In goal, a keeper every island claims as its own. At the back, a defender who learned marking from ferry timetables. Running midfield, a midfielder with a diaspora's worth of styles. Up front, a striker half of Lisbon regrets releasing.

One World Cup, forty-odd decisions, no second leg. Pick the shape, name the squad, make the calls from the touchline, and see how far Cape Verde can go. Free to play, one sitting, no sign-up.

▶ Play as Cape Verde

The Favourites · 6/1 – 12/1

ArgentinaBrazilFranceEnglandSpainGermanyPortugalNetherlands

The Contenders · 16/1 – 40/1

ItalyBelgiumCroatiaUruguayMoroccoColombiaUSAMexicoJapanSwitzerlandDenmarkSenegal

The Dark Horses · 66/1 – 150/1

NorwayAustriaUkraineTurkeySwedenPolandSerbiaSouth KoreaAustraliaIranEcuadorNigeriaEgyptAlgeriaScotlandHungaryCzechiaGreeceIvory CoastCanada

The Outsiders · 250/1 – 500/1

WalesPeruChileParaguayTunisiaCameroonGhanaMaliCosta RicaQatarSaudi ArabiaSlovakiaSloveniaRomaniaIrelandNorth MacedoniaBosnia & HerzegovinaGeorgiaFinlandIceland

The Improbables · 1000/1 and drifting

AlbaniaNorthern IrelandIraqUAEUzbekistanJordanBurkina FasoDR CongoSouth AfricaCape VerdePanamaJamaicaHondurasEl SalvadorVenezuelaBoliviaNew ZealandChinaOmanHaiti