3-0, 2-2! A sad and happy night in football! Cape Verde advanced, the two favorites were tied, and missed the chance to advance.

In the world of football, the night of a qualifying match can often outline the intertwining of fates and emotional ups and downs. When the Cape Verde national team defeated Swaziland by three goals at home and secured their ticket to the World Cup, the cheers that broke out in the stands were not only a victory, but also the moment when an island country with a population of only half a million touched its dream for the first time. This team, known as the "Blue Sharks", covers an area of ​​only about 4,000 square kilometers and has been unknown on the football map of the African continent for a long time.

At the same time, the situation in the European arena showed a completely different story. The French team, ranked second in the world, encountered a tough obstacle in the away game in Iceland. Although they controlled nearly 70% of the ball possession rate, they were equalized twice by their opponents in the absence of seven forwards including Mbappe. Iceland, a small Nordic country that created miracles in the 2016 European Cup, once again showed amazing resilience.

The success of Cape Verde is reminiscent of the rise of small countries in the football world. This ten-island country, smaller than a single city in many countries, has produced many players who play in European leagues. Their story echoes that of the Icelandic team in the 2018 World Cup, which had a population of just over 300,000. Curacao, currently leading the CONCACAF qualifiers, may continue to rewrite this record with a smaller population.

When France coach Deschamps admitted after the game that he "doesn't want worries to affect the team," and when Swiss midfielder Xhaka continued his stable performance in club and national team but failed to bring victory, these details became an important part of this football night. Football matches are never just a contest of skills and tactics, but also an intertwining of psychology, state and accidental factors. On this night, the carnival of the Cape Verdean fans was in sharp contrast to the regrets of the French and Swiss supporters, but together they interpreted the truest emotional dimension of this sport.

As the World Cup quotas are gradually determined, these games will become chapters worth remembering in the history of football. Cape Verde's breakthrough has injected new vitality into African football, while the unexpected points loss by traditional strong teams is a reminder of the uncertainty of competitive sports. On the road to the 2026 United States, Canada and Mexico World Cup, every game is writing a new story, and every goal is changing the trajectory of destiny. This is the eternal charm of football - it always leaves a place for dreams and is always ready for new surprises at the next moment.