’s goalless draw with regarded like one of many nice World Cup shocks at first look, however the consequence suits an extended sample that has adopted La Roja for many years.
Cape Verde had been making their World Cup debut in Atlanta, whereas Spain arrived with the status of a European heavyweight.
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That distinction made the scoreline really feel dramatic, particularly with Cape Verde goalkeeper serving to hold Spain out throughout a tense Group H opener.
But Spain have type for making sluggish begins at this match, and the numbers make the draw look much less random than it first appeared.
Picture by Juan Luis Diaz/High quality Sport Pictures/Getty Pictures
Spain’s World Cup opener file offers context to Cape Verde draw
Spain have solely received their first match in three of their previous 15 World Cup appearances, drawing 5 and shedding seven. That file turns the Cape Verde consequence from a one-off shock into a part of a wierd nationwide behavior.
Spain misplaced 1-0 to in 2010, had been thrashed 5-1 by the Netherlands in 2014, drew 3-3 with in 2018, beat 7-0 in 2022 after which opened 2026 with a goalless draw towards Cape Verde.
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The 2010 defeat stays crucial warning towards overreacting. Spain misplaced their first match in , then went on to carry the World Cup for the primary time by beating the Netherlands within the last.
That historical past doesn’t make the Cape Verde draw best, however it does present that Spain’s opening video games hardly ever provide a clear learn on the place their match will go.
Spain post-2010 World Cup file retains Cape Verde concern alive
Spain’s greater concern isn’t just the Cape Verde consequence, however what has occurred at World Cups since their golden 2010 ending.
The protection of their title collapsed in 2014 with a group-stage exit. Spain then went out within the final 16 in each 2018 and 2022, shedding knockout ties that bolstered the sense that their match management had turn out to be much less harmful.
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Since beating the Netherlands within the 2010 last, Spain have performed 12 World Cup matches and received solely three. That run contains dominant possession, gifted squads and loads of technical high quality, however not sufficient decisive match soccer.
The Cape Verde draw suits that rigidity. Spain nonetheless had the ball and the standing, however they didn’t flip both right into a win towards a debutant opponent.
For Cape Verde, the purpose was historic. For Spain, it was acquainted in a extra uncomfortable means: one other World Cup opener that raised questions earlier than the match had even settled.
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