{"id":6677,"date":"2026-07-08T13:39:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=6677"},"modified":"2026-07-08T13:39:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:39:47","slug":"champions-league-restarts-with-world-cup-star-lopes-of-cape-verde-missing-for-shamrock-rovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=6677","title":{"rendered":"Champions League restarts with World Cup star Lopes of Cape Verde missing for Shamrock Rovers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Cape Verde\u2019s Pico Lopes smiles as he celebrates with fans after the World Cup Group H soccer match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

GENEVA \u2014 Far from the World Cup<\/a> spotlight, the Champions League has restarted with Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto \u2018Pico\u2019 Lopes<\/a> unable to play because of his memorable tournament run with Cape Verde<\/a> .<\/p>

Read more Zlatko Dali\u0107 steps down as Croatia\u2019s coach after World Cup exit<\/a><\/p>\n

In 10 games played Tuesday in the Champions League first qualifying round, the first goal of the season was scored in Gibraltar by a player even older than Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> \u2014 41-year-old Nano, the left back for Lincoln Red Imps.<\/p>\n

Lopes returned to Dublin on Monday three days after Cape Verde thrilled the World Cup by pushing defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi to the limit in a 3-2 loss<\/a> in the round of 32 at Miami Gardens.<\/p>\n

Shamrock, where the 34-year-old Lopes has played since 2016, lost 2-0 to Floriana in the first leg in Malta.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll miss the game in Malta, unfortunately,\u201d Lopes had told reporters at Dublin airport, \u201cbut I\u2019m looking forward to getting back into training and getting back to doing what I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rovers hosts the second leg next Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Champions League action played out Tuesday in a swath of soccer nations that never qualified for a World Cup \u2014 Gibraltar, San Marino, Faroe Islands \u2014 and one which did, Bosnia-Herzegovina.<\/p>\n

Bosnian champion Borac Banja Luka drew its first leg at home, 1-1 against Levski Sofia, though without its only player who went to the World Cup, 18-year-old goalkeeper Mladen Jurkas.<\/p>\n

In Gibraltar, Lincoln opened the competition\u2019s scoring with a 16th-minute penalty by Nano in a 3-1 win over Inter Club d\u2019Escaldes of Andorra.<\/p>

Read more Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 condemns Paraguayan senator over racist remarks after World Cup match<\/a><\/p>\n

Four more games are played Wednesday, including in Estonia, Moldova and Kazakhstan, where Kairat Almaty starts again<\/a> in the first qualifying round.<\/p>\n

Kairat reaching the lucrative main phase in the last edition and played Real Madrid, Arsenal and Inter Milan.<\/p>\n

Belarus champion, Vitebsk, hosts its \u2018home\u2019 game in neutral Hungary with no fans in the stadium.<\/p>\n

UEFA prohibited Belarusian teams hosting games since Russia\u2019s full military invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian teams remain suspended<\/a> from all European competitions including the Champions League.<\/p>\n

Games also started Tuesday in the first qualifying round of the third-tier Conference League, in Albania and Luxembourg.<\/p>\n

The second-tier Europa League starts Thursday with teams that often play in the Champions League main phase. Qarabaq, Dynamo Kyiv and Ferencvaros are all in action.<\/p>

Read more In Maine, voters consider their options as they await Platner\u2019s decision<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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