The second-best team on the planet (according to FIFA rankings) took on World Cup debutants Cabo Verde (ranked 67th) Monday afternoon in Atlanta, GA. What was thought to be a cakewalk for Spain turned into a humbling moment. After qualifying as one of the best teams in Africa, Cabo Verde held La Roja to a scoreless draw.
It was apparent that Spanish gaffer Luis de la Fuente expected, as many did after judging the sides on paper, that Spain was going to demolish the Blue Sharks from Africa and use the match as a warm-up for the “real” match against Uruguay. This was evident not only by starting Unai Simón in goal over La Liga champion Joan García (FC Barcelona) and Premier League champion David Raya (Arsenal), but also by benching Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. But underestimating any side in a World Cup is a major mistake that Spain had to learn the hard way.
Cabo Verde Starting XI (4-2-3-1 formation): Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Jamiro Monteiro, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Laros Duarte, Dailon Livramento, Ryan Mendes (c), Steven Moreira
Spain Starting XI (4-3-3 formation): Unai Simon, Marcos Llorente, Ferran Torres, Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri (c), Pedri, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella
When the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) held its qualifiers, Cabo Verde topped Group D, defeating strong sides like Libya, Cameroon, and Angola. Their excellent home form, winning five matches without conceding a goal, was pivotal in booking their place at this year’s World Cup. With these kinds of accomplishments under their belt, why wouldn’t they walk into today’s match with confidence?
Spain had 74% possession and fired 27 shots; zero goals. Their fanbase whistled and jeered them ferociously by the 66th minute, with expectations far from being met. Endless passing and distribution in the final third is not what their supporters paid to see. In retrospect, Cabo Verde managed 26% possession and managed six shots the entire match. They posed no threat on the attacking end, and that was evident by their first shot coming in the 37th minute.
This match will be talked about for the rest of the year, let alone the rest of the tournament. Specifically, the Cabo Verdeans gave a masterclass in defending. Whenever La Roja had possession in the attacking third, the Blue Sharks would sit back defensively. They did a great job clogging the middle, causing Spain to make mistakes in the midfield. Sitting back and playing for the counterattack, Cabo Verde’s anchor in defense was the 40-year-old Vozinho, who made seven saves and won Man of the Match. From back-to-back point-blank saves to long-range efforts he tipped over the crossbar, he was spread out all over goal and helped his team make history.
“I feel very proud. For me, it’s an honor to represent my country,” Vozinha said post-match. “It’s a dream come true, we compete against Spain, one of the best national teams in the world. And we are very, very happy and very proud of all the players and the people from Cape Verde.”
De la Fuente looked like he could feel the pressure. After no goals and jeers from his own supporters, he caved and brought on Lamine Yamal. The West Africans didn’t budge. De la Fuente had another legitimate weapon in Nico Williams, but it was too little too late as he came on in the 86th minute.
The historic feat was made in front of 67,640 fans. This is why we watch football. Cabo Verde, a 28-1 underdog (worse odds than Saudi Arabia’s 25-1 when they shocked Argentina in Qatar in 2022), humbled the No. 2-ranked team in the world, with a roster that boasts an embarrassment of riches in competitors. The massive 65-place ranking difference and the fact that Cabo Verde features a population of just over 500,000 made the result a massive underdog achievement.
“[Today’s result] It really spurs us forward,” said Cabo Verde goalkeeper C.J. Dos Santos. “It gives us a lot of confidence going into the next match with a point under our belts against a difficult opponent (Uruguay). It really takes us in the right direction.”
Today’s result carves an easier path to advancing from Group H for Cabo Verde. Unfortunately for Spain, the result puts pressure on them in their next match against Saudi Arabia and could potentially make their clash against Uruguay the ultimate decider (win or go home).
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-Jon Jones
Photos: Eyoel Fassil