How it played out
Spain did almost everything but score. Luis de la Fuente's side controlled possession from the first whistle, but Cabo Verde were organised, disciplined and fearless, throwing bodies in front of everything and trusting goalkeeper Vozinha to handle the rest. He did, making seven saves and keeping his nerve as Spain's frustration grew.
By the numbers
The stats tell the story of a backs-to-the-wall masterclass. Spain completed 734 passes — the most by any team in a World Cup match since records began in 1966 — and fired 27 shots without finding the net. Cabo Verde, by contrast, committed just one foul all night, defending cleanly rather than cynically.
Why it matters
This is a country of just over 500,000 people holding a heavyweight of world football to a standstill on its first ever World Cup appearance. "This means everything for our country," said coach Pedro Leitão Brito. For the neutrals, it was exactly the kind of story the expanded tournament was supposed to create.
