Cape Verde, an archipelago of roughly half a million residents, steps into the spotlight of soccer's brightest stage Monday when it takes on Spain to open play for Group H. The Tubarões Azuis -- that's "blue sharks" in Portuguese -- are hitting the tournament on an upswing.

They are one of the smallest countries to play in a World Cup, but Cape Verde are aiming high, with a Dublin-born defender who used to work in a bank among their ranks.