World Cup: Spain held by debutants Cape Verde as Grimaldo remains unused
| Cape Verde hold Spain to historic draw | Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images |
In what is undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far, Cape Verde produced a disciplined and resilient display to earn a historic point against the 2010 world champions in Atlanta. A combination of determination, organisation and unwavering belief allowed the underdogs to frustrate Spain throughout the contest and secure a result that will live long in the memory of their supporters.
Spain dominated possession for large periods but struggled to turn their control into clear-cut chances. Luis de la Fuente’s side lacked their usual sharpness in the final third and found themselves repeatedly thwarted by a stubborn Cape Verde defence.
The Spain coach may also face questions over some of his selection decisions, having opted to leave star winger Lamine Yamal and Barcelona teammate Dani Olmo on the bench from the start. While fresh legs were eventually introduced, Spain never truly found the breakthrough they desperately searched for.
Another notable absentee was Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo. The 30-year-old remained an unused substitute throughout the match, a disappointing outcome for a player who enjoyed another impressive campaign at club level.
Spain will now look to bounce back when they face Saudi Arabia in their second Group Stage fixture on June 21 in Atlanta (18:00 CEST), knowing that anything less than three points could leave their qualification hopes under pressure.
