AI Generated Image
Eloy Room spent last year training alone. Now he’s Curacao’s World Cup hero
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Eloy Room, Curacao's goalkeeper, made 15 saves in a World Cup match against Ecuador, equalling the record set by Tim Howard in 2014, helping Curacao secure a 0-0 draw.
- Curacao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup with a population of just over 150,000, achieved a historic draw in their tournament debut, marking a significant milestone in their football journey.
- Room switched allegiance from the Netherlands to Curacao in 2015, driven by his dream to play in the World Cup, despite spending much of last year without a club and training alone.
- The team's performance was celebrated by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who joined the players in the dressing room to celebrate, highlighting the close ties between Curacao and the Dutch kingdom.
- Room's World Cup heroics have significantly boosted his profile, with his social media following rising dramatically, and Curacao now aims to continue their remarkable run with a match against Ivory Coast.
