📂 Categoría: Football,World Cup | 📅 Fecha: 1781578167
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Spain’s World Cup is off to a nightmare start with the European champions failing to beat tournament debutants Cape Verde.
The tiny African island nation frustrated their opponents as Luis de la Fuente’s side were held to a stunning goalless draw in Atlanta.
It marks the first 0-0 of this summer’s World Cup, which comes on day five of the tournament.
Both Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams started on the bench for Spain after recent injury woes.
However, the 2010 winners were still able to name a starting line-up which included five members of their Euro 2024 final XI.
The world’s No.2 ranked nation dominated at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium but were unable to break the deadlock against their spirited opponents.
Cape Verde were appearing in their first-ever World Cup match having qualified with a population of less than 500,000.
They are the third-smallest nation ever to appear at the finals after Curacao and Iceland.
Their defensive approach restricted Spain as they struggled to create openings during the first half.
Even the first hydration break of the match failed to kickstart a performance from De la Fuente’s men.
Instead, they had to wait until late in the half before Ferran Torres hit the bar from close range.
Heroic display
A flurry of half-chances followed, but on each occasion Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was on hand to keep Spain out.
The 40-year-old produced a determined display to preserve his clean sheet.
In total, the stopper produced seven saves to deny the Spanish attack as he became the oldest player to keep a clean sheet on their World Cup debut.
Yamal’s introduction in the 71st minute threatened to finally spark Spain into life.
The teenager’s pace caused immediate problems for the Cape Verde defence as he created an opening just seconds after coming on.
However, Vozinha was once again on hand to gather a tame effort on goal from Marcos Llorente.
Defender Pico Lopes was the hero late on as he produced a miraculous block to keep out Mikel Oyarzabal.
It came just minutes before his side’s best chance of the match as Diney Borges headed straight at Unai Simon from a corner.
‘Absolutely brilliant’
The inquest in the Spain camp officially begins but talkSPORT’s Darren Bent hailed Cape Verde for their ‘outstanding’ performance.
Bent said on commentary: “So many of these performances for this Cape Verde side were outstanding. Not only that, when they come on, he [Cape Verde boss Bubista] makes substitutions and every single one of the players that came on knew their role.
“I thought Nuno da Costa, when he came on, he had an opportunity, he could have kicked it anywhere, but he said, you know what, now I’m going to keep hold of the ball. And he drove with it 30, 40 yards, and then Pedri drags him down.
“But I mean, they were absolutely brilliant. That’s all I can say. I mean, I can’t find words kind of positive enough to describe this performance because I was one of those that thought they’d get turned over today.
“But they can take so much belief from this result against Spain. Going forward now, I mean, if they can keep their standards high, they’re going to be in every single game in this World Cup tournament.”
Discussing Vozinha’s display, the former England striker added: “It was an emotional performance, under control.
“Not at any time did I think he got overawed with it, where he starts to try things and get a little too confident.
“Everything he did was with purpose – when he had to clear the ball, he cleared it. When he could play out from the back and he had time, he played out from the back.
“When there were times to come and claim the ball from crosses, he did it. When there were times to make good saves, and push the ball into not dangerous areas, he did it.
“For me, it was almost the perfect performance from a goalkeeper. At 40-years-old, the tears at the end, I mean, I could have cried.
“That performance from the Cape Verde side, it’s one of the best I’ve seen from a side who we didn’t expect a lot from.
“For them to show up to this World Cup and put in that level of performance was incredible.”
Prior to kick-off, Cape Verde had been ranked 65 places below their opponents in the FIFA World Rankings.
Having earned their first-ever World Cup point, the Blue Sharks have now boosted their hopes of a place in the last 32.
Meanwhile, Spain have now failed to win their opening match for the fourth time in the last five World Cups.
Their 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica in Qatar four years ago is the only time they have started their campaign with three points since 2006.
The other match in Group H on Monday night sees Uruguay face Saudi Arabia at 11pm, live on talkSPORT 2.
Spain take on Saudi Arabia in their second fixture on Sunday before concluding their group stage campaign against Uruguay on June 26.
Spain’s World Cup is off to a nightmare start with the European champions failing to beat tournament debutants Cape Verde.
The tiny African island nation frustrated their opponents as Luis de la Fuente’s side were held to a stunning goalless draw in Atlanta.
It marks the first 0-0 of this summer’s World Cup, which comes on day five of the tournament.
Both Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams started on the bench for Spain after recent injury woes.
However, the 2010 winners were still able to name a starting line-up which included five members of their Euro 2024 final XI.
The world’s No.2 ranked nation dominated at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium but were unable to break the deadlock against their spirited opponents.
Cape Verde were appearing in their first-ever World Cup match having qualified with a population of less than 500,000.
They are the third-smallest nation ever to appear at the finals after Curacao and Iceland.
Their defensive approach restricted Spain as they struggled to create openings during the first half.
Even the first hydration break of the match failed to kickstart a performance from De la Fuente’s men.
Instead, they had to wait until late in the half before Ferran Torres hit the bar from close range.
Heroic display
A flurry of half-chances followed, but on each occasion Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was on hand to keep Spain out.
The 40-year-old produced a determined display to preserve his clean sheet.
In total, the stopper produced seven saves to deny the Spanish attack as he became the oldest player to keep a clean sheet on their World Cup debut.
Yamal’s introduction in the 71st minute threatened to finally spark Spain into life.
The teenager’s pace caused immediate problems for the Cape Verde defence as he created an opening just seconds after coming on.
However, Vozinha was once again on hand to gather a tame effort on goal from Marcos Llorente.
Defender Pico Lopes was the hero late on as he produced a miraculous block to keep out Mikel Oyarzabal.
It came just minutes before his side’s best chance of the match as Diney Borges headed straight at Unai Simon from a corner.
‘Absolutely brilliant’
The inquest in the Spain camp officially begins but talkSPORT’s Darren Bent hailed Cape Verde for their ‘outstanding’ performance.
Bent said on commentary: “So many of these performances for this Cape Verde side were outstanding. Not only that, when they come on, he [Cape Verde boss Bubista] makes substitutions and every single one of the players that came on knew their role.
“I thought Nuno da Costa, when he came on, he had an opportunity, he could have kicked it anywhere, but he said, you know what, now I’m going to keep hold of the ball. And he drove with it 30, 40 yards, and then Pedri drags him down.
“But I mean, they were absolutely brilliant. That’s all I can say. I mean, I can’t find words kind of positive enough to describe this performance because I was one of those that thought they’d get turned over today.
“But they can take so much belief from this result against Spain. Going forward now, I mean, if they can keep their standards high, they’re going to be in every single game in this World Cup tournament.”
Discussing Vozinha’s display, the former England striker added: “It was an emotional performance, under control.
“Not at any time did I think he got overawed with it, where he starts to try things and get a little too confident.
“Everything he did was with purpose – when he had to clear the ball, he cleared it. When he could play out from the back and he had time, he played out from the back.
“When there were times to come and claim the ball from crosses, he did it. When there were times to make good saves, and push the ball into not dangerous areas, he did it.
“For me, it was almost the perfect performance from a goalkeeper. At 40-years-old, the tears at the end, I mean, I could have cried.
“That performance from the Cape Verde side, it’s one of the best I’ve seen from a side who we didn’t expect a lot from.
“For them to show up to this World Cup and put in that level of performance was incredible.”
Prior to kick-off, Cape Verde had been ranked 65 places below their opponents in the FIFA World Rankings.
Having earned their first-ever World Cup point, the Blue Sharks have now boosted their hopes of a place in the last 32.
Meanwhile, Spain have now failed to win their opening match for the fourth time in the last five World Cups.
Their 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica in Qatar four years ago is the only time they have started their campaign with three points since 2006.
The other match in Group H on Monday night sees Uruguay face Saudi Arabia at 11pm, live on talkSPORT 2.
Spain take on Saudi Arabia in their second fixture on Sunday before concluding their group stage campaign against Uruguay on June 26.
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📚 Información de la Fuente
| 📰 Publicación: | talksport.com |
| ✍️ Autor: | Ciaran Wiseman |
| 📅 Fecha Original: | 2026-06-15 18:07:00 |
| 🔗 Enlace: | Ver artículo original |
Nota de transparencia: Este artículo ha sido traducido y adaptado del inglés al español para facilitar su comprensión. El contenido se mantiene fiel a la fuente original, disponible en el enlace proporcionado arriba.
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