Spain’s player ratings after Cape Verde calamity

Spain stumbled in their efforts to get past a resolute Cape Verde side who left everything on the pitch in an historic performance that sees them take a point from the European champions.

Here’s a look at Spain’s player performances from the game...

Unai Simón: A spectator until the very end. The first save he had to make came in the 90th minute. It was a straightforward stop, as Cape Verde’s effort was tame and directed straight at him.

Llorente: Started brightly, surging forward, but gradually became more restrained, allowing Cucurella to exploit the space on his flank. Physically, he was a level above everyone else and never looked troubled. However, that athletic superiority demands a greater contribution in the final third.

Cubarsí: Had virtually no defensive work to do and excelled in possession. In the friendly in Puebla, he misplaced one pass; today, none. More than 60% of his passes came in the opposition half. That was partly a consequence of Spain’s territorial dominance, but also a reflection of his confidence on the ball.

Laporte: His leadership was evident almost immediately. Aware that Cape Verde’s main threat would come on the counterattack, he shifted across with ease and agility to prevent danger and stepped into attack whenever possible. One header forced Vozinha into an excellent save. He was slightly slow to recover during stoppage time, but it was nothing significant. Composed and assured in possession.

Cucurella: There were two versions of Cucurella. Before the cooling break, he was contained and failed to take advantage of the vast space Moreira left behind when following Gavi inside. After the timeout, he transformed. Bold and relentless, he repeatedly drove forward. He registered Spain’s first shot of the match. Two dangerous runs created openings, and on the third he met a Rodri pass and headed the ball across goal, with Ferran striking the woodwork. He also had a clear headed chance in the 82nd minute and snuffed out a dangerous counterattack just before the final whistle. The driving force behind Spain’s build-up and the standout performer on the pitch.

Fabián (71’): Began by rotating positions with Pedri, but the minutes he spent near the right flank did not suit him. He encountered problems similar to Rodri’s, looking slightly slow when turning and adjusting his body shape, which reduced some of his usual dynamism. He made a couple of dangerous runs into the box but lacked fortune in front of goal. A gear below his best.

Rodri (87’): Struggled to find the rhythm of the game. Early on, he was slow to turn and was dispossessed by Livramento in midfield, leading to a shot. Yet it was his pass over the top that created Spain’s first major chance, with Cucurella coming close to turning it into an assist. His presence adds authority and is particularly valuable when defending crosses. Even so, he lacked freshness in possession and was unusually erratic.

Pedri: Took control almost from the outset and covered a huge amount of ground. He initially operated higher up as a number 10, but improved once he began dropping deeper to receive the ball. As Pedri improved, so did Spain. The two were inseparable. He hesitated with a clear shooting opportunity but produced a magnificent pass that Oyarzabal failed to convert. The most influential and freshest presence in midfield.

Ferran (81’): Highly involved throughout. At times he looked overeager, but he gradually settled into the game. He had Spain’s clearest chance, striking the crossbar from a Cucurella delivery. On a few occasions he was too selfless, choosing to pass when a shot seemed the better option, and he lacked precision with one or two controls. Switched to the left after the substitutions. The most convincing starter among those not usually first-choice. What he lacked was a clinical finish.

Oyarzabal: Arrived in excellent form, having scored in six consecutive matches and recorded 12 goals and six assists across his previous 11 appearances. The seventh consecutive goal, however, never came. He almost connected with a header in the first half, but Vozinha reacted sharply. He also narrowly missed a dangerous Cucurella cross. His movement was good, but his finishing lacked precision.

Gavi (71’): Started on the left wing but frequently drifted into central areas. He pressed aggressively and worked tirelessly, as expected, but offered little in terms of vertical threat. More midfielder than winger, though he excelled in the less glamorous aspects of the role, winning four aerial duels and competing strongly on the ground. The biggest surprise in the starting XI and, in truth, the only one. His inclusion reinforced the idea that he is a key player for De la Fuente: if he is available, he plays.

Substitutes:

Merino (71’): Introduced to provide aerial presence and late runs into the box, but had little opportunity to make an impact.

Lamine Yamal (71’): His introduction immediately changed the tempo of the game. Looked fresh, lively and eager to make things happen. Played an excellent pass to Olmo that could easily have led to a goal. He also lost possession in a dangerous area, which resulted in a chance for the opposition.

Olmo (81’): The game seemed to call for him earlier. In limited time, he brought energy, creativity and intelligent movement between the lines. Produced an excellent cross for Oyarzabal late on.

Nico Williams (87’): Had no time to influence proceedings. The positive was simply getting minutes on the pitch.

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