Shamrock Rovers Teammate Lee Grace Praises Roberto Lopes Ahead of World Cup Debut with Cape Verde
Shamrock Rovers defender Lee Grace has expressed immense pride for his teammate and friend Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, who is set to represent Cape Verde in their first World Cup appearance. Grace highlighted their enduring defensive partnership at Shamrock Rovers since 2017, which has contributed to multiple club successes including five Premier Division titles. Lopes, a Dublin-born player with Cape Verdean heritage, received a heartfelt send-off from fans, a moment Grace considers a dream fulfilled for his friend.
Shamrock Rovers centre-back Lee Grace is enthusiastically supporting his friend and defensive partner, Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, as Lopes prepares to play for Cape Verde in their inaugural World Cup appearance. Grace, 33, will be cheering on Cape Verde, the second smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup, a moment he described as Lopes "living out a dream."
Grace and Lopes have been playing together at Shamrock Rovers since 2017. Lopes joined the League of Ireland side from Bohemians in November 2016, while Grace arrived from Galway United in August 2017. Their solid defensive partnership has been instrumental in a period of sustained success for the Dublin club, including five Premier Division titles, two FAI Cups, and two campaigns in the UEFA Conference League.
Grace lauded Lopes as an "absolutely brilliant player" and a natural leader, even before he was named club captain. He praised Lopes' dedication to football and his significant improvement, stating he has become one of the best defenders in the league. Grace conveyed the collective pride felt by the club in seeing Lopes perform on such a prominent international stage.
Roberto Lopes, born in Dublin to a Cape Verdean father and an Irish mother, made his debut for Cape Verde in 2019, having previously played once for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s in 2011. He received a warm send-off from his native suburb of Crumlin and from Shamrock Rovers fans at Tallaght in his last game before departing. Grace believes that the entire League of Ireland and Ireland will rally behind Lopes, recognizing his representation of both the league and the country.
Cape Verde is scheduled to compete in Group H of the World Cup. Their group stage matches include a game against 2010 champions Spain on June 15 at 17:00 BST, followed by Uruguay on June 21 at 22:00 BST, and Saudi Arabia on June 27 at 01:00 BST. Grace stated his intention to watch as many of these games as possible.
According to Yahoo Sports Soccer, Grace considers Lopes' World Cup appearance a realization of a lifelong ambition.
