Spain Player Ratings vs Cape Verde: La Roja Held to Shocking Draw in World Cup Opener

Spain faced a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their World Cup opener, with poor performances from key players prompting criticism of coach Luis de la Fuente.

In a surprising turn of events at the 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde managed to hold Spain to a 0-0 draw on Monday in Atalanta, marking a significant upset in the tournament. The debuting Cape Verde team, ranked 64th in the world, was not expected to challenge the reigning European champions, yet they defied the odds, largely thanks to the outstanding performance of their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, who made several crucial saves.

Despite their status as favorites, Spain struggled to create scoring opportunities against Cape Verde. Pedri, a key player for Spain, was not at his best, and forward Ferran Torres, along with his teammates, missed several chances to score. Torres notably squandered a clear opportunity in the first half, while Mikel Oyarzabal's performance as Spain's striker left much to be desired.

In a bid to change the course of the match, Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, introduced 16-year-old Lamine Yamal for the last 20 minutes. Although Yamal added an element of threat to Spain's attack, the team was ultimately unable to penetrate a well-organized Cape Verde defense.

Following the match, GOAL provided ratings for the players who participated in the game, highlighting their performances. The goalkeeper's distribution was satisfactory, and he had only one save to make during the match.

The right-back was described as a lively presence, though he narrowly avoided a yellow card for a foul on Cape Verde's Jovane Cabral.

The young Barcelona defender had a relatively easy night, as Cape Verde posed minimal attacking threats.

Another player forced Vozinha into a fingertip save with a header during first-half injury time and was noted for solid defensive work.

The left-back emerged as Spain's most dangerous player, creating two excellent chances for Ferran Torres, both of which were missed.

The midfielder did his job by controlling the play and provided the best chance of the first half with a well-placed ball for Cucurella, who set up Ferran.

Despite his efforts to push forward, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder appeared to be lacking sharpness after his recent injury.

One crucial moment saw Torres hit the crossbar from close range, a miss deemed unacceptable. He also had a weak shot saved just before halftime, raising eyebrows as to why he remained on the pitch for 80 minutes.

The Barcelona playmaker attempted to make an impact but had a disappointing performance by his normally high standards.

The unexpected choice of a starting player was criticized for lacking creativity on the left side, leading to his early substitution.

Another substitute saw a looping header saved by Vozinha but was mostly ineffective, highlighting Spain's ongoing struggle with lacking a traditional No. 9.

Yamal, who came on with just 19 minutes left, showed promise but could not alter the outcome of the game.

Another substitute nearly scored the winner with a well-executed shot, which was blocked by Pico Lopes.

A late replacement for the underperforming Ferran, he created a late scoring opportunity for Merino.

Another player returned from injury late in the game but failed to make a significant impact.

The coach, who led Spain to victory in Euro 2024, is expected to face backlash for this disappointing performance. Spain lacked the necessary intensity, and while injuries influenced his selection, starting Gavi was seen as a questionable decision. De la Fuente will be hoping that Yamal is fit enough to start in Spain's next match against Saudi Arabia, as the team's performance without him was concerning.