At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Spain heavy favorites to cruise through Group G were stunned by the resilience of Cabo Verde. Luis de la Fuente’s side dominated possession and created chances, but lacked the cutting edge to break down a disciplined opponent.
Softfootball gathered that The first half saw Spain probe patiently, only for Vozinha to emerge as the unlikely star. The veteran keeper produced four saves, including a spectacular tip over the bar from Mikel Oyarzabal’s header, after Ferran Torres had rattled the frame of the goal.
Spain’s expected goals (xG) climbed above 2.0 in the second half, but wasteful finishing and Cabo Verde’s stubborn defense ensured the scoreline remained unchanged. For Cabo Verde, ranked 67th in the world and making their World Cup debut, the result was historic — a statement that they are no pushovers.
Three-and-a-half years ago, Spain opened their Qatar 2022 campaign with a 7-0 demolition of Costa Rica. This time, against a nation with a population smaller than Málaga, they were held scoreless, raising questions about their attacking sharpness.
Player Ratings
Spain
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Unai Simón | 7.3 |
| Marcos Llorente | 7.9 |
| Pau Cubarsí | 7.9 |
| Aymeric Laporte | 7.5 |
| Marc Cucurella | 7.4 |
| Fabián Ruiz | 7.5 |
| Rodri | 7.9 |
| Pedri | 8.6 |
| Ferran Torres | 6.4 |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | 6.3 |
| Gavi | 6.8 |
Cabo Verde
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Vozinha | 9 |
| Steven Moreira | 7 |
| Diney Borges | 8 |
| Pico Lopes | 7 |
| Sidny Cabral | 7 |
| Kevin Pina | 6 |
| Ryan Mendes | 6 |
| Jamiro Monteiro | 7 |
| Laros Duarte | 6 |
| Jovane Cabral | 7 |
| Dailon Livramento | 6 |
| Nuno da Costa | 6 |
| Telmo Arcanjo | 6 |
| Willy Semedo | 6 |
| Deroy Duarte | 6 |
| João Paulo | 6 |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Spain | Cabo Verde |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 74% | 26% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.29 | 0.29 |
| Total Shots | 27 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 1 |
| Big Chances | 2 | 1 |
| Pass Accuracy | 92% | 73% |
| Fouls | 10 | 1 |
| Corners | 11 | 1 |
