Assistant coach of Ha Tinh Club: 'Spanish team hasn't found their rhythm yet'

Cape Verde caused one of the biggest shocks in the first round of the 2026 World Cup group stage by drawing 0-0 with Spain. Mr. Nguyen Trong Giang, assistant coach of Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club and former Hanoi Club player, stated that the Spanish team hasn't fully settled into their gameplay or achieved peak performance.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde played with great determination and discipline. This small nation's team, with an area of only about 4,000 km², organized an active defense and provided excellent cover for each other:

"In this match, Spain actively implemented their short-passing style and dominated possession with up to 74%. However, they lacked ideas to break through the opponent's defense.

Spain had few direct attacks through the center, forcing them to spread the ball to the wings and deliver crosses into the box for forwards. They also tried many long-range shots to overcome the deadlock, but their accuracy was not high.

On the other hand, Cape Verde's players covered and coordinated with each other very well. Their dense midfield block forced Spain to move the ball wide for crosses, while forwards like Ferran Torres and Oyarzabal were not strong in aerial duels.

Notably, despite playing with a defensive majority, Cape Verde committed only one foul, compared to Spain's 10. They also successfully blocked 15 attacking moves by their opponents."

With Spain only earning one point against Cape Verde, Coach De la Fuente's team must strive to secure maximum points in their remaining two matches to compete for a spot in Group H: "This was a costly draw for Spain in a group that also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

I think after this match, Spain will adjust their starting lineup in the next round. They remain a top global team. When they rediscover their playing inspiration or score an early goal to break the deadlock, they will become very formidable," shared Assistant Coach Trong Giang.

In the next match, Spain will face Saudi Arabia, before taking on Uruguay in the final round of the group stage.