Not even Lamine Yamal can save Spain from shock draw with Cape Verde

Spain Cape Verde ratings GFX

Cape Verde pulled off the biggest shock of the 2026 World Cup so far by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw in Atalanta on Monday. More to follow...

Spain v Cabo Verde: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeeper & Defence

Unai Simon (6/10):

Distribution was decent and only had one save to make all game.

Marcos Llorente (6/10):

A lively enough presence down the right flank, although he was lucky to avoid a yellow for chopping down Jovane Cabral.

Pau Cubarsi (6/10):

A pretty comfortable evening for the Barcelona youngster, given Cape Verde offered very little threat up top.

Aymeric Laporte (6/10):

Forced Vozinha into a fingertip save with a good header in first-half injury time and was neat and tidy in his defensive work.

Marc Cucurella (7/10):

Easily Spain's most dangerous attacking outlet, the new Real Madrid created two great chances for Ferran Torres - both of which should have been converted.

Spain v Cabo Verde: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

Midfield

Rodri (7/10):

Did what was expected of him by controlling the midfield and also created the best chance of the first half with a delightful lofted ball in behind the Cape Verde defence for Cucurella.

Fabian Ruiz (6/10):

Did his best to get forward to try make the breakthrough himself but to no avail. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder still looks a little rusty after his recent injury.

Spain v Cabo Verde: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

Attack

Ferran Torres (3/10):

Hitting the bar from six yards out was unforgivable but he was also guilty of shooting weakly at Vozinha just before the break. Incredible that he was left on for 80 minutes.

Pedri (5/10):

The Barcelona playmaker never stopped trying to make something happen but this was a poor performance by his incredibly high standards.

Gavi (3/10):

The surprise inclusion the squad failed dismally to justify his inclusion in the starting line-up. Offered zero creativity on the left-hand side.

Mikel Oyarzabal (4/10):

Saw a looping header tipped over by Vozinha but was ineffective for the most part. Spain's lack of a proper No.9 really is a problem.

Spain v Cabo Verde: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

Subs & Manager

Lamine Yamal (6/10):

Came on with just under 20 minutes to go and although he looked dangerous, he couldn't save Spain from an embarrassing result.

Mikel Merino (6/10):

Introduced alongside Yamal and nearly netted the winner with a good effort that was brilliantly blocked.

Dani Olmo (6/10):

Replaced the ineffective Ferran for the final 10 minutes and created a great late chance for Merino.

Nico Williams (x/10):

Just like Yamal, made his eagerly-awaited return from injury late on, but unable to make an impact

Luis de la Fuente (3/10):

The Euro 2024-winning coach is going to absolutely slated for this shameful showing - and rightly so. Spain didn't play with anything like the required intensity and while injuries may have influenced his selections, the decision to start Gavi was absurd in the circumstances.