Spain midfielder Rodri criticises Cape Verde tactics after 0‑0 World Cup 2026 draw

Rodri has criticized Cape Verde’s tactics after the minnows held Spain to a 0‑0 draw, saying they “don’t get past midfield.”

The Euro 2024 champions entered the World Cup as favourites, but were stunned by the African side, which celebrated the result as a win at full‑time, with half a million fans in attendance.

Spain did not dominate the Cape Verde goal, struggling to turn possession into clear‑cut chances. Lamine Yamal was left on the bench after an injury‑hit spell, and even his 70‑minute cameo could not spark a win in the opening match.

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Rodri, used to playing for teams that dominate games and face low blocks, noted that his side lacked potency in the box. He told La 1 (via Mirror): “It wasn’t meant to be. There’s little to complain about. We knew it was a game that required patience. They sat back and dropped back very quickly. We couldn’t put it in. We created chances, but couldn’t finish. The positive thing is that they barely created anything against us. We need to improve our finishing.”

Spain are now winless in their last three World Cup encounters with African opponents.

Prior to the draw with Cape Verde, Spain lost on penalties to Morocco in the 2022 round of 16 and were held to a 2‑2 draw.

James Agberebi

James is a sports content creator who also provides analysis on sports. He has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams. Facebook: James Agberebi