While her son’s attention is entirely focused on how Cape Verde can keep its World Cup fairytale alive, Judy is back to normal, but only for a couple of days.
Judy briefly swapped the bright lights of the World Cup for a job as a secretary at a school in Dublin before returning to America with her husband and Pico brothers for the big match.
“I know it sounds terrible now, but we never imagined they would leave the group they were in,” she said.
“They were up against two former world champions, Spain and Uruguay, and I think they had a 1% chance, so we just booked and scheduled three group stage games and I had to go back to work straight after that.”
“The kids also gave me a great send-off the day before I left and they created a lovely poster to wish him luck, which I brought with me. The whole team signed me while I was there, it would be great to hang it in the foyer now when the kids come back in September.”
This World Cup has caused quite a bit of upheaval, with many countries that would have qualified for the final stages of the tournament already withdrawing from participation.
Although Judy admitted Argentina are the favourites, she added that “anything is possible” as Cape Verde looks to defy the odds.
“I think that while Argentina are perhaps the favorites to win the tournament, I think Cape Verde are without a doubt the favorites to win the tournament.
“It would be great (if they progressed); in football everything is possible. After all, 90 minutes have passed, 11 against 11, and anything can happen.”
“So let’s hope the fairytale continues and they move on to the next stage.”