Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has urged calm after his side were held to a frustrating goalless draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their opening match of the tournament.
The reigning European champions dominated possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Cape Verde side, leaving Atlanta with only a point despite entering the competition as one of the favourites.
Spain’s lack of cutting edge was highlighted by the limited involvement of teenage star Lamine Yamal, who was only introduced in the second half as he continues his recovery from injury.
“We are completely calm and convinced there is still a long way to go,” De la Fuente said afterwards.
“As far as we are concerned, there are still seven matches ahead of us. What we lacked was freshness and precision.”
ESPN reports that the result extended Spain’s unbeaten run in competitive matches to 32 games, stretching back to March 2023. However, the display revived memories of previous World Cup disappointments when domination of possession failed to translate into goals.
Yamal’s arrival immediately transformed Spain’s attack and energised the crowd, yet Cape Verde successfully neutralised the Barcelona star by frequently doubling up on him.
Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, another player returning from injury, was not introduced until the closing minutes.
De la Fuente insisted both players will become increasingly influential as the tournament progresses.
“They are game-changers and offer different qualities,” he said. “The team will continue to improve and develop new solutions.”
The Spain manager believes his side simply need time to rediscover their rhythm and attacking sharpness.
“Once we regain our chemistry and competitive edge, we will be even stronger,” he added.
Spain return to action against Saudi Arabia on Sunday before concluding their group-stage campaign against Uruguay in Guadalajara, knowing victories in both matches would quickly restore confidence in their World Cup ambitions.
