{"id":1028621,"date":"2026-06-15T19:15:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1028621\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T19:15:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:15:19","slug":"spain-0-0-cape-verde-stats-minnows-stun-european-champions-on-world-cup-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1028621\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain 0-0 Cape Verde Stats: Minnows Stun European Champions on World Cup Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite 65 places separating them in the world rankings, Cape Verde<\/a> marked their World Cup debut by holding tournament favourites Spain<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cape Verde goalkeeper\u00a0Vozinha<\/a> produced an inspired display as the World Cup<\/a> debutants held European champions Spain to a shock 0-0 draw in their Group H clash on Monday.<\/p>\n

Vozinha made seven saves to deny Spain\u2019s star-studded squad, with Lamine Yamal\u2019s introduction not enough to spark La Roja\u2019s attack into life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pedri\u2019s tame 15th-minute effort was the first time Vozinha was forced into action, but the 40-year-old was on hand to produce a string of stunning stops as Spain piled on the pressure at the end of the first half.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rodri\u2019s clipped ball in behind was laid back across by the head of\u00a0Marc Cucurella<\/a>, only for Ferran Torres to cannon his strike against the crossbar, with\u00a0Mikel Oyarzabal<\/a>\u2018s header on the follow-up sensationally tipped over by Vozinha.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Cape Verde goalkeeper then got down low to his left to thwart Torres again on the stroke of half-time, before he then tipped\u00a0Aymeric Laporte\u2019s header to safety.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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40 \u2013 Cabo Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha is the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his FIFA World Cup debut, making seven saves against Spain.<\/p>\n

Heroic. pic.twitter.com\/Y5yFXfrKYt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spain continued to struggle to break through Cape Verde\u2019s stern defensive rearguard, with Luis de la Fuente introducing both Yamal and Mikel Merino<\/a>\u00a0off the bench in the 71st minute, the latter springing Vozinha into action moments after coming on.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A heroic piece of defending from\u00a0Pico Lopes blocked\u00a0Oyarzabal\u2019s late effort, and Cape Verde had a huge chance to snatch the unlikeliest of victories late on, but\u00a0Diney Borges\u2019 header was saved by\u00a0Unai Sim\u00f3n, as the spoils were shared in the first seismic shock at this year\u2019s World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vozinha Proves Age is Just a Number<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ahead of kick-off, Spain boss De la Fuente said Yamal was in perfect condition to face Cape Verde, but the 19-year-old was named among the substitutes, and his absence in attack certainly hindered La Roja, who were slow and predictable in their build-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oyarzabal, who\u00a0was one of only three players with 10+ goal involvements in the\u00a0World Cup qualifiers, became the first player at this year\u2019s\u00a0World Cup to not touch the ball in the first 25 minutes of a match.<\/p>\n

Spain attempted 12 shots in the first half against Cape\u00a0Verde;\u00a0only against Switzerland in 1966 (14) have they had more shots in a first half without scoring in the competition (since 1966 onwards), but those efforts were mainly from distance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And even with the introduction of Yamal, who certainly injected some pace\u00a0in the final third, Spain were simply not good enough.\u00a0Since scoring in the 11th minute of their World Cup match vs Japan in 2022, they\u00a0have now\u00a0completed 2,500 passes without scoring.<\/p>\n

They finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.29 from their 27 shots, seven of which were on target, but they were met by\u00a0Vozinha, who saved all seven. Since 1966, the only goalkeeper aged 40+ to make more saves in a\u00a0World Cup game was Pat Jennings on his 41st birthday for Northern Ireland against Brazil in 1986 (10).<\/p>\n

And at\u00a040 years and 12 days, Vozinha is the oldest player to make an appearance in a nation\u2019s debut\u00a0World Cup game, breaking Eloy Room\u2019s record set just yesterday for Curacao (37 years, 182 days).<\/p>\n

Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Spain vs Cape Verde stats from their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H meeting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.<\/p>\n

Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Spain vs Cape Verde: Post-Match Opta Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n