Spain faced a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their World Cup opener, with key players underperforming despite the late introduction of Lamine Yamal.
Cape Verde achieved a remarkable feat in the 2026 World Cup by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw in Atalanta on Monday. The World Cup debutants were initially dismissed by many as unlikely contenders against the reigning European champions, but their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha quickly gained recognition for his outstanding performance, making a series of crucial saves to deny La Roja.
Spain struggled to generate the anticipated number of scoring opportunities against a team ranked 64th in the world. Despite Pedri not being at his best, the failure of forwards like Ferran Torres to capitalize on the chances presented to them was evident. Torres notably missed a clear opportunity in the first half, while Mikel Oyarzabal once again failed to impress in his role as Spain's striker.
In a bid to secure a victory, Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente brought on Lamine Yamal for the final 20 minutes of the match. Although the Barcelona teenager added a new dimension to Spain's attack, the team was unable to breach a well-organized Cape Verde defense.
Below are the player ratings for the Spain squad that participated in the match in Atalanta:
1. Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper had a solid distribution and faced minimal threats, only needing to make one save during the match.
2. Right-back: Demonstrated a lively presence on the right flank but was fortunate to avoid a yellow card after a foul on Jovane Cabral.
3. Center-back: Had a relatively easy evening, with Cape Verde providing little offensive threat.
4. Center-back: Forced Vozinha into a fingertip save with a well-placed header during first-half injury time, and maintained composure in defense.
5. Left-back: Spain's most effective attacking player, creating two significant chances for Ferran Torres, both of which went unconverted.
6. Midfielder: Fulfilled his role by managing the midfield and setting up the best chance of the first half with a clever pass for Cucurella.
7. Midfielder: Attempted to push forward but struggled to make a significant impact; still appeared to be recovering from a recent injury.
8. Forward: Missed a critical chance by hitting the crossbar from close range and shot weakly at Vozinha shortly before halftime. It was surprising that he remained on the pitch for 80 minutes.
9. Midfielder: Continuously sought to create opportunities but delivered a subpar performance compared to his usual high standards.
10. Forward: A surprising choice for the starting lineup, he failed to deliver any creativity from the left side, making his early substitution necessary.
11. Forward: Had a rare opportunity with a looping header that was saved but was otherwise ineffective, highlighting Spain's struggles without a traditional No.9.
12. Substitute: Came on with 19 minutes left in regulation; despite showing some potential, he could not avert the disappointing outcome.
13. Substitute: Introduced alongside Yamal and nearly scored the winner with a strong attempt that was expertly blocked.
14. Substitute: Replaced the ineffective Ferran for the closing minutes and set up a promising late chance for Merino.
15. Substitute: Made a long-awaited return from injury late in the match but failed to make an impact.
The coach, who led Spain to victory in Euro 2024, is likely to face significant criticism following this disappointing performance. Spain displayed a lack of intensity, and while injuries may have impacted his choices, the decision to start Gavi in this match was questioned. De la Fuente will need to ensure that Yamal is fully fit for Spain's next match against Saudi Arabia, as the team appeared lost without his presence.
