Spain 0-0 Cape Verde: The European champions were repeatedly thwarted by Cape Verde in their opening World Cup game and were eventually replaced by Lamine Yamal with 20 minutes left, but even he couldn’t save the day.
Spain could not break through Cape Verde’s defense.
Spain’s draw in the opening game of the World Cup was secondary to the fact that their opponents Cape Verde earned a point for the first time in World Cup history.
The Spaniards, winners of four major tournaments in the past 20 years, failed to even score against the third-smallest nation to ever play in a World Cup. This point was enthusiastically celebrated by the people of a country just off the coast of Africa, with a population similar in size to Sheffield.
World Cup stalemates are rarely celebrated like victories, but they do underline the level of achievement. Questions will be asked for Spain even if they play against a team that dominates the ball and positions themselves just outside their own area.
When Spain played in the group stage of Euro 2024, it was hard not to notice the high quality of their side. There was another thread to the team that was setting the benchmark for possession-based football: out-and-out pace. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams played as wingers for Spain two years ago and caused havoc in every game they played.
In the match against England, Yamal doubled up on Williams to score, and in the final the pair combined to score the opening goal. Fast forward to today, and both players started on the bench in their country’s opening game against Cape Verde, which felt like Spain were back in 2018.
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If World Cups and other major tournaments were decided by how well they kept the ball, rather than by how many points they scored, Spain might be in the midst of a decade-long spell as champions.
But soccer isn’t played that way, and Spain has lacked such a cutting-edge feel since the glory days of 2008, 2010 and 2012. Yamal and Williams, who are probably the best players on the planet, provide that for them.
Spain are not a one-man team, but against Cape Verde they proved that two men in two key positions can change everything for a team. The good news is that they are very likely to start in the second match against Saudi Arabia.
This will be a relief for Luis de la Fuente, as it was remarkable how comfortable the African nation was with the likes of Pedri, Rodri and Gabi.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vojin refused to lose at Atalanta
Spain suffered an embarrassing loss to Switzerland in the 2010 World Cup despite winning the Euros. It was ultimately just a speed bump on a glorious journey, but as a season opener, this match probably topped it. He is being held in Cape Verde.
Rodri and his midfield partner Fabian Ruiz dominate the game and play in a team that wins silver medals every year. But both are playing in teams with wingers who are ready to run in behind, defend and take on opponents one-on-one. All of them stretch the defense and create holes.
Spain, which lacks these types of players, will have to try to break through their compact defense, but if they can maintain discipline, they will be able to coexist with Spain even though they are a lower-ranked team.
This was the group showdown of the World Cup, with the biggest gap between the two teams in terms of world rankings, but while Spain dominated the ball, they would be outclassed at half-time.
Lamine Yamal was on the bench on Monday night and came on in the second half.
With 20 minutes left, the teenage superstar appeared. Fans cheered his entrance and his first touch just seconds later. Yamal has the type of power that his team was seriously lacking. Williams came on with three minutes remaining, but neither side had time to score the opening goal of the game, and the World Cup favorites sealed a shock draw.
It is enough to look back at Spain’s accolades over the past decade. They played Russia in the World Cup eight years ago and lost on penalties, but they were dominant in that game but drew 1-1 despite having 74 percent possession. Four years ago in Qatar, we were shocked by Morocco, who forced a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw.
A better team that Cape Verde will keep an eye on and have great optimism. It was certainly a frustrating night for Spain, who have proven more than anyone that pace can really change a team’s ability.
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