Cape Verde pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as African debutants Spain were held to a draw by Atlanta.
One of the worst moments in football history produced one of the biggest results, with Cape Verde being the third smallest country to ever compete in a World Cup – but they showed a lot of heart.
Among the heroes is 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who played in Portugal’s second division last season and made four outstanding saves.
He was careful over the head of Mikel Oyarazabal, saved it by trying to approach Ferran Torres, robbed Aymeric Laporte of a goal from a corner and later denied Mikel Merino and Marc Cucurella inside the box.
Vozinha’s runner-up for man of the match was Shamrock Rovers’ Pico Lopes – who denied Oyarazabal with a stunning last-gasp save in the 88th minute to deny someone the winner.
Cape Verde could have won it as Diney Borges was caught unmarked in a rare corner – it was blocked by goalkeeper Unai Simon.
But Spain were also poor and wasteful, with Torres missing a first-half assist by hitting the bar from six yards. Even after sending Lamine Yamal off the bench, Spain couldn’t find an answer.
It’s just a football result that will be heard around the world.
Highlights from Atlanta…
- 31: The time it took for Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal to touch the ball for the first time – highlighting how lax Spain were against the Cape Verde defence.
- 39: WHAT’S THE PROBLEM! Torres somehow fails to convert from six yards by hitting the bar. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha then lifts the rebound from Oyarzabal above.
- 45: WHAT IS SAVING! Vozinha goes down to deny Torres’ goal inside the box.
- 45+3: ANOTHER STATE! Laporte’s header is turned away by the 40-year-old goalkeeper.
- 70: After showing a bit of attack, Yamal has finally arrived on his return from injury.
- 73: Yamal made an immediate impact, setting up Marcos Llorente to replace Merino, who was again denied by Vozinha.
- 82: Cucurella is behind but can only shoot straight at Vozinha.
- 88: Oyazarbal had a close range effort brilliantly blocked over the bar by Cape Verde defender Lopes.
- 90+1: Borges ALMOST wins it for Cape Verde but can’t convert the corner.
In pictures: Amazing save by 40-year-old Vozinha!
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who turned 40 last week, made some incredible saves to keep out a goal – starting with Oyarazabal’s header.
Vozinha was then saved from Ferran Torres inside the box
The goalkeeper Vozinha then tipped Aymeric Laporte with the ball which was around the post
Analysis: How could Spain break through?
Sky Sports by Sam Blitz:
This was not just a big shock. Tournament favorites vs tournament starters. This was the shock of one of the most unfair games in football history.
It goes beyond the size and stature of Spain and Cape Verde as individual nations. All you had to do was look at the pitch and the flow of the game to see how big the gap was.
Goalkeeper Vozinha will make the headlines for the save – but he also got the second touch of any Cape Verdean player on the field. It summed up how his teammates failed to catch the ball.
But Vozinha was not alone. His two full backs were outstanding and had the game of their lives. Diney Borges won more duels and made more tackles than any other player.
Only Dublin-born Pico Lopes was better, making 11 clearances – and making a goal-saving block to deny Oyarzabal late on.
But even though this is a Cape Verde story – the question must be asked as to how Spain failed to pass.
From the first minute, the pattern of play was not for the European champions. The pace of the ball was low. Striker Oyarzabal took 31 minutes to touch the ball. They scored one goal until the 38th minute.
Substitute Yamal made the difference, creating more space for others. But at that time Spain was on the verge of despair.
There wasn’t enough rotation in the wide areas before the Spanish star came on. Without Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain do not look like a team equipped to be dangerous from the outside.
During Euro 2024, the Spanish team spoke of calm heads and moments of brilliance. They never mastered any of those key skills
Statistics that embarrass Spain
- Spain had 27 shots in this match without finding the net, their most total since 1966 in a FIFA World Cup match without scoring, and their 27 attempts against Paraguay in 1998, also 0-0.
- Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal is the first player on record since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match without touching the ball once.
- Spain attempted 12 shots in the first half against Cape Verde; only against Switzerland in 1966 (14) have they had more shots in the first half without scoring in a competition (from 1966 onwards).
- Cape Verde completed just 14 passes in the opposition’s half in the game, which is the joint-lowest total of any team in a World Cup soccer match on Opta’s record (since 1966).
- Spain have had 49 shots and completed 2,500 passes 10 times since their last FIFA World Cup goal in the 11th minute against Japan in 2022.
- Spain have failed to win in their last four FIFA World Cup matches, their last winless streak spanning from 25 June 1982 to 1 June 1986.
- The 40-year-old Vozinha made seven saves for Cape Verde in the game – since 1966, the only goalkeeper aged 40+ to make more saves in a FIFA World Cup match was Pat Jennings on his 41st birthday for Northern Ireland against Brazil in 1986 (10).
- At 40 years and 12 days, Vozinha is the oldest player to appear in a nation’s first FIFA World Cup match, breaking Eloy Room’s record set yesterday in Curaçao (37 years, 182 days). Only Egypt’s Essam El Hadary (45 years, 161 days) is older when he made his World Cup debut than Vozinha today.
