Cape Verde hold Spain in one of World Cup's biggest shocks

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>Match report as Spain held to 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde - third-smallest nation to ever compete tournament; the group of islands with population fewer than 500,000 held the favourites - with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha and defender Pico Lopes shining at the back

>Cape Verde pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as the African debutants held tournament favourites Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.

>One of the biggest mismatches in football history has produced one of the biggest results, with Cape Verde the third-smallest nation to ever compete in a World Cup - but they showed the biggest heart.

>Among the heroes included 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who played in Portugal's second division last season and made four outstanding stops.

>He tipped over Mikel Oyarazabal's header, saved low from Ferran Torres' close-range effort, tipped Aymeric Laporte's goalbound header around the corner and then denied Mikel Merino and Marc Cucurella from inside the box late on.

>Second to Vozinha to man of the match was Shamrock Rovers' Pico Lopes - who denied Oyarazabal with a stunning last-ditch block on 88 minutes to deny a certain winner.

>Cape Verde could have even won it as Diney Borges was found unmarked at a late, rare corner - only for it to be blocked into goalkeeper Unai Simon's path.

>But Spain were also poor and wasteful, with Torres missing a first-half sitter by hitting the bar from six yards. Even after sending on Lamine Yamal from the bench, Spain could not find an answer.

>It is quite simply a football result that will reverberate around the world.

>This was not just a huge shock. Tournament favourites vs tournament debutants. This was a shock in one of the biggest mismatches in football history.

>It goes well 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 huge the gap.

>Goalkeeper Vozinha will grab the headlines for the saves - but he also had the second-most touches out of any Cape Verde player on the pitch. It summed up how his team-mates just were not able to keep hold of the ball.

>But Vozinha was not alone. His two centre-backs were outstanding and had the game of their lives. Diney Borges won more duels and made more tackles than any other player.

>He was only bettered by Dublin-born Pico Lopes, who made 11 clearances - and made a goal-saving block to deny Oyarzabal late on.

>But while this is Cape Verde's story - the question must be asked about how Spain could not get through.

>From minute one, the pattern of play just was not there for the European champions. The ball speed was low. Striker Oyarzabal took 31 minutes to have a touch of the ball. They had one shot on target right up until the 38th minute.

>Substitute Yamal made a difference, creating more space for others. But by that point Spain were on the brink of desperation.

>There was not enough rotation in the wide areas before Spain's teenage star comes on. Without Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain do not look like a team that is equipped to be dangerous out wide.

>During Euro 2024, this Spain team was all about calm heads and flair moments. They never grasped either of those key skills

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