“Credit where it is due." A small nation with barely 5 lakh people has really made a mark in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. Yes, the West African island nation of Cabo Verde has exceeded expectation by drawing with heavy weights like Spain and Uruguay, making the round of 32 and just barely falling short to the last edition's champions, Argentina. Hats off to their resilience and performance, again justifying the motto i had coined a while back - 'If you have the will to succeed, failing is never an option!'”

With these words, one of the finest and most inspiring performances, ever as seen in the entirety of FIFA World Cup history have been avidly described by a certain Pranay Rangra, avid sports writer based in Bombay. What’s interesting and perhaps just as inspiring in equal measure is that a host of football fans have paid much attention to a small set of slightly unfamiliar teams such as the brilliant Cabo Verde instead of remaining ever or solely in awe of giants like Argentina, Portugal, England or the likes.

Given the fact that this is a country with a very tiny population of under 6 lakhs, played so well and fought so hard and almost took a World Cup came against footballing powerhouses in the form or Argentina is inspiring enough.

Enough for even India’s famous cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin to direct great praise at a side that, truth be told, not many would have heard of unless they’d have not even made it to this year’s hugely followed FIFA World Cup!

It is a common fact that Ravichandran Ashwin, besides being a huge achiever in the great game of sport, has been an avid follower of other global sports and offers, time and again, interesting insights on his YouTube channel.

And he’s offered a heartwarming and brilliant tribute to one of the most loved football sides at the present moment to Cabo Verde:

“Whatever happens from here on in. Remember the name “CAPE VERDE. What a team and what a show they have put on so far this World Cup.”

The kind of adulation and praise that the tiny country is getting- and much deservingly so- is brilliant given that great praise is coming from a country that may not necessarily be all that strong unfortunately so- where it comes to football. And moreover, it’s absolutely brilliant that a prominent cricketer is offering praise and showing great support to a sport that’s anything but cricket. What do you reckon?