Joao Paulo

Joao Paulo is a Cape Verdean defender who has built his career across the lower reaches of Portuguese football and Eastern European leagues, with spells at Sheriff Tiraspol and now Oțelul in Romania. His experience in the Moldovan and Romanian top flights — competitive if unglamorous environments — has given him a pragmatic defensive education. At 28, he is in the middle years of a career spent largely outside the spotlight, and for Cape Verde he provides squad depth in defence. His familiarity with physical, direct Eastern European football may suit the demands of a World Cup group stage.