The first 45 minutes of the 2026 World Cup match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta were far from memorable for the Spanish squad. The team coached by Luis de la Fuente displayed a very discreet performance against one of the tournament's weaker selections (67th in FIFA rankings).
Cape Verde adopted a deep, organized defensive block, leaving little room for Spain to generate play or find space. The Spanish team appeared sluggish and predictable. Lacking pure wingers, they struggled to achieve width, with Cucurella, a recent signing for Real Madrid, being one of the most advanced players coming from deep.
Amidst these challenges, Mikel Oyarzabal recorded an unusual statistic. Typically reliable with excellent records for the national team, the Real Sociedad forward was affected by the team's lackluster performance.
“"Mikel Oyarzabal is the first player since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match without touching the ball."
This statistic, which includes zero passes, zero contacts, and zero shots on goal, highlights Spain's weak showing, particularly in the first half. Despite this isolated incident, it is considered more of an anecdote reflecting the overall poor game rather than a lasting reflection on the player's future prospects.
