“Nothing made us hesitate. Whatever was said or left unsaid… this is the way we have to follow,” said Luis de la Fuente after his Spanish team hit the ball against Cape Verde’s wall 23 times, and saw it come back every time. The Spanish media, known for histrionics whenever unnecessary, were surprisingly sanguine after the 0-0 draw, but de la Fuente’s words were perhaps the most disappointing part of the World Cup opener.
This same side has put a sincere belief in Spain that although other sides may have the same level, or maybe even a touch more, this world cup is very close. Cape Verde defended admirably, making one mistake, a sign of discipline in the world’s flagship country. That was part of a dismal, labored look about Spain’s offensive efforts. De la Fuente played down the result as a lack of finishing, blaming inaccuracy and youth as the main factor that destroyed Spain’s way to victory. As Spain looked like the teams knocked out by Russia 2018 and 2022 by Morocco, de la Fuente sounded a bit like Luis Enrique after the game.
“We must insist on the same vision,” he repeated. If you’re wondering why a seemingly innocuous statement like that might blow your mind, it’s because de la Fuente has never been one for admission. i the idea. If Luis Enrique or even supply coach Fernando Hierro were wedded to plan and plan, de la Fuente was unrestricted, flexible as a beauty.
Naturally his Spanish team has always had it i idea, plan, but at Euro 2024, he was praised for making the game easier. If La Roja were fighting to dominate the box, Joselu Mato would come in. In case they found space to run, Ferran Torres was sent off. Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal are not refined, but they, like de la Fuente himself, were brought up in Basque football, a direct and aggressive form of the game in Spain. The same XI would start, and start quickly, looking to put Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in space, but as the game approached the climax, whatever risks the opponents decided to take, de la Fuente would show a complementary player who could exploit them.
Remarkably, there were only four changes from de la Fuente’s starting XI against Cape Verde to Morocco’s exit four years ago. It looks a little different, but there was Ferran Torres on the right, Pedri as a more advanced midfielder, and Dani Olmo playing as a left winger. The use of Gavi on the left against Cape Verde was held up as the worst betrayal of what de la Fuente’s Spain are known for. “The idea with Gavi was for him to drop inside to create depth. We intended for Cucurella to join the attack, and he did,” de la Fuente defended, appropriately.
There was something unsatisfying about Spain preparing their starting line-up without left-back Marc Cucurella, while leading goalscorer Mikel Oyarzabal was absent from the game. Cucurella’s runs from deep created Spain’s best chances, but he was the only one who tried to break the Cape Verde back line. The fitness of Victor Munoz, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal somewhat tied his hands, but de la Fuente still had enough freedom to appeal to Yeremy Pino, the best of his wide players.
On Thursday, Borja Iglesias was denied entry to a Spanish residence, after security failed to recognize the 6’2 (187cm) target, and de la Fuente appeared to forget him three days earlier as well. When Lamine Yamal threw in, twice, three times in the closing minutes, he was forced to kick the ball towards Olmo – a situation that Cape Verde manager Bubista had fully embraced.
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Not until 71St minute de la Fuente challenged the Cape Verde defense with something different, and although Lamine Yamal helps any team look strong, it is still hard to digest that this Spanish team was hesitant on the ball, slow to receive a pass. The most promising thing for de la Fuente is that all week the Spanish players sing the same song, the highest level in football, with calm and cool heads.
Last year, assistant manager Pablo Amo left the Spanish set-up to work in Qatar. No work can be divided between a manager and their assistant, but when his departure was announced, many shops including Spain praised him for having played a major role in their successful strategy up to that point. In Spain’s documentary on their road to winning Euro 2024, Amo is seen in class explaining the plan to beat Germany in the quarter-finals. Perhaps the Spanish manager can reprimand the organizer, but de la Fuente looked as upset as we all did with their performance on Monday. If they do not have the power seen in de la Fuente’s Spain, without new solutions to choose what will undoubtedly be the same path in Saudi Arabia, they will open a Pandora’s box of alarm bells.
