Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Jun 15

Spain Boss de la Fuente Calls Cape Verde "Clearly Inferior" After 0-0 World Cup Draw

Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Jun 15

Spain Boss de la Fuente Calls Cape Verde "Clearly Inferior" After 0-0 World Cup Draw

Q: From obscurity to 3.5 million followers, can goalkeeper Vozinha lead the World Cup's biggest underdog to the knockout stage?

Yes — Cape Verde now have a credible path to the knockout stage, and Vozinha is the main reason. The 40-year-old goalkeeper transformed Cape Verde’s World Cup debut by making seven saves in a 0-0 draw with Spain, the Euro 2024 champions and one of the tournament favorites. Cape Verde, ranked 67th and playing in their first World Cup, were 2000/1 outsiders before the tournament. Holding Spain to a draw was not just a shock result; it gave them a valuable point in a group that also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. The expanded 48-team format helps. With the top two in each group plus eight of the 12 third-placed teams advancing, Cape Verde do not need to finish above both Spain and Uruguay to progress. A win over Saudi Arabia, or another draw plus a strong defensive record, could put them in contention for one of the best third-place spots. Vozinha’s form makes that scenario realistic. His display against Spain earned him man-of-the-match honors and turned him into one of the early faces of the tournament, with his social-media following reportedly jumping from about 56,000 to more than 3.5 million. But Cape Verde’s chances are not resting on celebrity alone. Coach Bubista’s compact, disciplined system frustrated Spain despite 74% possession and 27 shots. The challenge remains steep. Uruguay are stronger on paper, and Cape Verde still lack attacking depth. But after taking a point off Spain, the biggest underdog in the field is no longer just making up the numbers.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Jun 15

Luis de la Fuente said Cape Verde were "clearly inferior" after Spain were held 0-0 in their World Cup opener, despite insisting his side remains calm and sees a long tournament ahead.
27 Spain shots and 74% possession underscored his point, but Cape Verde limited the damage to six attempts and goalkeeper Vozinha saved all seven efforts on target.
Lamine Yamal played only 20 minutes, and de la Fuente suggested Spain's attacking edge should improve as the winger becomes more available in Group H.
For Cape Verde, the stalemate was a historic result against a title contender and turned Vozinha and the back line into the game's standout story.