Cape Verde: Half a million inhabitants across the archipelago’s ten islands, with nearly a million in the diaspora. And a soft power clearly on the rise, especially after their latest performances in the FIFA World Cup. On a demographic scale, it is as if one of the six districts of Antananarivo were going toe-to-toe with Spain, the reigning European champions, and pushing Argentina, the world champions, into extra time. It is easily forgotten that the country has no major natural resources and that even water is a precious commodity there. The whole world witnessed a squadron of warriors proudly carrying the colors of a country from nowhere (in the Atlantic, half a thousand kilometers from Africa, ‘opposite’ Senegal). They came to play football, without incongruous demands, certainly not brandishing a flag that was not their own, nor pretending to defend a cause that did not concern them. Exceptionally likable people.
Japan: In sporting terms, an elimination in stoppage time in the Round of 16 against Brazil. But in the stands, a reputation as impeccable as the zeal shown by the Japanese contingent in cleaning up all the dirt and waste left by the average supporter. In addition to other already very appealing aspects, recognized for a long time, the Japanese have once again garnered sympathy and respect by candidly giving a lesson in etiquette to the world.
Germany: Analysts would like to see the successive failures of the ‘Mannschaft’ in the World Cup as a reflection of Germany’s general decline. Volkswagen, Europe’s leading automaker, is considering nothing less than reducing its annual production and cutting up to half of its models, leading to the layoff of 100,000 positions and the closure of historic factories. What if the collapse in the Chinese market punctuated a new commercial and industrial era? After 1945 and the Second World War, ‘Made in Germany’ had embodied the conversion into soft power of a once-militaro-industrial superpower. An existential question that a ‘simple’ football World Cup was enough to crystallize.
Nasolo-Valiavo Andriamihaja
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-11 07:13:16 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/prolongations.html