Why Theo Janssen says Dutch football needs Cape Verde's fire

After Cape Verde’s dramatic round‑of‑16 exit at the World Cup – where the 500,000‑strong island nation pushed Argentina to the brink before succumbing to the defending champions deep in extra time – former Feyenoord midfielder Theo Janssen warned that the Netherlands must adopt that same passion to avoid another early knockout. Cape Verde, a nation of just over 500,000 inhabitants, reached the round of 16 at the World Cup and pushed Argentina to the brink before losing deep in extra time to the defending champions. The side played all four of its matches level in regular time, a fact Janssen highlighted as evidence of their resilience. Former Feyenoord midfielder Theo Janssen, a left‑footed former international, said the Dutch team could learn from Cape Verde’s display of passion. He argued that the lack of such energy was a key factor in the Netherlands’ own elimination by Morocco.

Hummels hails Cape Verde’s underdog brilliance after World Cup upset

“If the Netherlands had a bit of this energy and pit, we would not have been eliminated (against Morocco, red),” Janssen said. He added that while the Dutch can play football, they are missing the passion and fight that Cape Verde showed. Former Feyenoord forward Jerson Cabral, who has Cape Verdean roots, expressed his pride in the team’s commitment. He noted that the players’ feeling for their country was evident throughout the tournament. “I am very proud. It shows that with passion… boys who play with so much feeling for their country… that must be the basis,” Cabral said. He believes that such dedication can allow a squad to go far at a World Cup. Both former professionals stress that passion, rather than technical skill alone, should be the foundation for future Dutch campaigns. Their comments suggest that embracing the intensity displayed by Cape Verde could be the missing ingredient for Oranje’s success.