Mikel Oyarzabal entered the history of the world championships after he did not make a single touch with the ball in the opening 30 minutes of the match against the Cape Verde Islands. It is the first such negative performance of a player at the World Cup in the last 60 years, that is, since measurements have been made.
The Spanish national team played unexpectedly difficult first half in the Group H match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Although he is a former world champion entered the match as absolute favoritest, the solid defense of the debutants completely cut off the Spanish attacking trio who are along with Oyarzabal did Ferran Torres and Gavi.
Basque striker and member Real Sociedaddespite being ninth best scorer with 25 goals in the history of the national selection, he was completely neutralized and invisible in the first part of the meeting.
0 – Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal is the first player on record since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match without touching the ball once.
Peripheral. pic.twitter.com/Ym5xi1ufbg
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 15, 2026
The main culprit for the ineffectiveness of the Spanish attackers was their mood 40–annual doorman Cape Verde Islands, Vozinha. The net keeper of the Portuguese second division team, Chaves, scored five key saves in the first hour of the game and thus kept his team’s net intact.
The coach of Spain decided to change the attacking line in this game, leaving the young star Laminea Yamal on the benchwhich in the first half proved to be an ineffective move against an organized African rival.
Spain stuck against the debutant: Big point for Cape Verde Islands
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: X)
