Spain's surprising nonchalance after a disappointing debut

BarcelonaSpain's disappointing debut in the World Cup, with a dull draw against Cape Verde (0-0), has generated much more fuss around the national team than in the locker room. While analysts are pulling their hair out over the coach's strategy and the players' execution, the result has been met with surprising naturalness in the camp. Or so it seems after hearing De la Fuente, who said the strategy was correct but that the only thing missing, and in a "strange" way, was the winning goal.

The precedent of 2010 is poisoned. La Roja won the World Cup, but debuted with a loss against Switzerland. That team also came from winning the Eurocup (2008), as now. Coincidences that, for those who believe in superstitions, invite optimism. But Spain would do well to put esoteric matters aside and focus on football, which is what was most missed by a team that, in the 42 matches the coach has managed, has only failed to score in five.

The team had 27 shots, equaling the national team's record in a World Cup match. Specifically, the group stage match against Paraguay in 1998, which also ended in a goalless draw. A precedent that is more worrying, since on that occasion Spain did not advance. Those were different times and a different competition model. Qualification should not be in danger in 2026, although La Roja needs to learn from its mistakes and not make excuses. "We have already shown what we are capable of and we will do it again," said Dani Olmo. "If anyone thinks we will collapse, they are wrong," added Ferran Torres. "No one said it would be easy," concluded Cucurella. Good words, declarations of intent, but no indication that suggests the 0-0 was a lesson learned.

In the words of the coach, "the idea was to create superiority down the wings and for the full-backs to get forward". The reality is that both Llorente and Cucurella showed great attacking intent, but very few ideas beyond crossing balls that, either due to Cape Verde's tight defense, or the veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, were repelled time and time again. It wasn't quite understood why Pedri played so close to the box, when it's not his usual position. Or the sense of placing Gavi on the left wing, where he completed a very weak performance with not a single shot, nor any assists, not even a single cut inside. Nor did Ferran break through on the right wing, even though the player from Foios was the one who came closest to scoring with two shots, one that the goalkeeper saved and the other that hit the crossbar.

Doubts about the physical condition of Spain's players

Ideas and resources were lacking. And it gave the impression that the team was not reaching its maximum physical level. Rodri and Fabián, starters, showed that they lacked match rhythm. The tactic of bringing on Lamine Yamal in the 70th minute also didn't work. Under normal circumstances, the winger from Rocafonda and offensive leader of the red would have spent another week recovering from the serious injury he suffered a month and a half ago. But De la Fuente got impatient and resorted to his magic to score the winning goal. Lamine did what was asked of him, as he dragged three defenders, whom he tried to overcome to reach the byline. But the subsequent crosses were fruitless with Cape Verde's defense very deep. Even so, he managed to create Spain's best chance: a cross that Olmo – the Barça player also came on in the second half – headed down and which Oyarzabal finally finished. The anticipation of a center-back was decisive in deflecting the shot.

Spain did not have the debut they expected, but they got lucky, because in the other group match, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia also drew, meaning that in group H, four teams are tied on one point in the standings. The second match for the red will be against the Saudi selection, a theoretically inferior opponent in all aspects but one that will probably present a game as defensively solid as Cape Verde. Thus, it will be decided how the standings will look on the final matchday, with a Spain-Uruguay match that gains much more significance than initially thought.