Cape Verde Islands vs Saudi Arabia Predictions

• Cape Verde are on a five-game unbeaten run
• Saudi Arabia have won just one of their last 10 games
• Saudi Arabia have conceded five goals across their two group stage games

Cape Verde can clip Green Falcons’ wings

Cape Verde were regarded as the underdogs of Group H before the World Cup kicked off but their performances so far mean they are the favourites ahead of their final group game against Saudi Arabia on Friday night.

Victory for Cape Verde would guarantee them a remarkable top two finish in Group H and a point would probably be enough to qualify as one of the best third placed teams, a draw could even see them edge out Uruguay for second spot if La Celeste were to lose to Spain.

Saudi Arabia have just one point on the board after their two games and only a win will do for the Middle Eastern nation, but they could end up empty-handed against the standout surprise package of the tournament so far.

Cape Verde held Spain to an unlikely 0-0 draw in their opener and backed that up with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. In the stalemate with La Roja, the Blue Sharks defended in numbers and had to soak up an incredible amount of pressure – but they did largely manage to restrict Spain to half chances. They showed a different kind of resolve against Uruguay as after falling 2-1 behind they managed to find an equaliser, and those performances suggest they can grind out a win over the Green Falcons.

Saudi Arabia escaped with a draw in their opener against Uruguay but were then thrashed 4-0 by Spain and they could have lost by a bigger margin. Saudi Arabia have been in poor form for some time with just one win inside normal time in their last 10 games and they are facing as Cape Verde side who have built up some momentum, so the Island nation can secure an historic first World Cup win and book a place in the knockout stages.

If Cape Verde are to edge ahead they should then adopt an ultra defensive approach and after keeping a clean sheet against Spain they look capable of keeping the Saudis at bay. The Blue Sharks have three clean sheets in their last four games and a 1-0 win for the Africans has a chance.

As an outside bet, Cape Verde defender Roberto Lopes may be able to get on the scoresheet. Lopes will come forward for set pieces and he did manage one attempt against Uruguay. He also has a respectable strike rate for Shamrock Rovers with three goals in 13 league games so far this season.