Shamrock Rovers have a vital stop to make on their way home to Dublin following their league game at Sligo Rovers: to watch their captain go head-to-head with the greatest footballer of all time.
Under normal circumstances, Pico Lopes would have been leading Rovers at Sligo's The Showgrounds (capacity 3,873) in a bid to help them extend their lead at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division. Instead, he will be facing Lionel Messi and Argentina in the World Cup knockout stages in front of 65,000 fans at Miami Stadium, representing Cape Verde. His teammates have no intention of missing it.
When Rovers' game at Sligo finishes, the team will turn their attention to where to see the greatest moment in their club's history. The match will not be available to watch back at Rovers' Tallaght Stadium, which is owned by the council and has no facility to show it.
Team Bus to Stop at Pub
Rovers press officer Mark Lynch said: "Our game will finish about an hour before Pico's match kicks off. So the team want to find a pub somewhere on the way back that is showing it. The team bus will be stopping. We're taking about 400-500 fans as well. I don't know what their plans are. They will be looking to stream it on various platforms."
Rovers have a crucial Champions League first-leg qualifier at Maltese champions Floriana on Tuesday, which Lopes had hoped to be involved in, should he fail to become part of the biggest shock in World Cup history. But Lynch insists the circumstances involved in Lopes getting back in time to be available mean he won't. He would target the return leg in Ireland instead a week later.
Lopes Treated Same Despite Fame
When Lopes returns to the club, Lynch insists the defender will be treated just the same, irrespective of the fact he is now "probably the most famous footballer in Ireland." Lynch said: "Within the group he will be treated just the same. And he would want that. He's a humble fella. One of the good guys.
"The vibe has been great. The media interest in him has ignited. Everything has been amplified. And if Cape Verde beat Argentina, they will have basically won the World Cup. He's probably the most famous footballer in Ireland, but all the publicity won't change him."
Asked about the chances Lopes could end up with a priceless memento — Messi's shirt — Lynch added: "Well, he'll have hold of it for the full 90 minutes, so he might as well get it from him (Messi) at the final whistle."
