Spain’s journey in this World Cup has faced unexpected challenges, not just from their opponents, Cape Verde, but also from logistical hurdles at their team hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Following a scoreless draw in their first match, coach Luis de la Fuente allowed his players to take a day off to shake off the disappointment. While Lamine Yamal explored Nashville, Dani Olmo visited Hamilton Place mall, and Rodri enjoyed a stroll along the Tennessee river with his partner, Borja Iglesias encountered a humorous situation upon his return. Arriving just before the 9 PM curfew, he was initially denied entry because the staff did not recognize him.
“It happens to me in Spain, so how could it not happen here? I didn’t have the accreditation with me so I have to wait for someone to come and get me. Lamine laughed at me: ‘I love it, they didn’t let you in.’ The good thing is I told a couple of them and they said it had happened to them before too.” Iglesias remarked, reflecting on the incident at Kennesaw State University, where Spain was preparing for their upcoming match. “I’m not sure it’s fair to say that the forwards have to ‘improve’, but yes, we need goals,”
Spain is now gearing up to face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, and the team understands the necessity to find the back of the net this time. “We had various chances and didn’t score; other times you only get one chance and you do score. So, be calm. I have seen them train and there’s no problem. They will go in next time, for sure.” Iglesias stated. “If we had scored one, the game would have changed,”
The players believe that if they had managed to score even once during their first match, the outcome would have been different. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” said Martín Zubimendi. Coach de la Fuente simplified the analysis after the game, emphasizing that sometimes the ball simply does not go in. Despite launching 27 shots, Ferran Torres struck the crossbar and missed another clear opportunity, while Vozinha, the veteran goalkeeper, made several crucial saves, earning him the man of the match title. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.” Rodri commented. “Maybe the fact that it was the first game conditioned things,”
Many observers were less forgiving, particularly given the expectations surrounding Spain’s opening match. Cape Verde was considered a manageable opponent, and the stakes felt lower due to the tournament format. “The players are stung, and tomorrow will be different for sure,” conceded de la Fuente. Mikel Merino described the aftermath as a period of “The freshness of Lamine and Nico is what it is,” an expression he later clarified was metaphorical but indicative of the pain felt by the players. “The good news is that Lamine is back,” de la Fuente asserted.
Despite the disappointment, de la Fuente expressed unwavering confidence, insisting that Spain must maintain their strategy. However, the notion that the only missing element was a finishing touch didn’t entirely satisfy critics. In the first 30 minutes of the last match, center-forward Mikel Oyarzabal didn’t register a single touch. Meanwhile, Pedri, the playmaker, appeared too far advanced, spending too much energy defending rather than orchestrating play. The width in their attack primarily came from the full-backs with Gavi and Torres on the flanks.
This situation has drawn attention to the absence of Lamine Yamal until the 71st minute, which overshadowed many other aspects of the game. An 18-year-old being heralded as Spain’s savior reflects a growing dependency that extends beyond the pitch. Lamine, who had been sidelined since April due to a hamstring injury, was deemed to be in “We would be in a better mood if we had won but today we have taken our run to 32 games unbeaten,” condition prior to facing Cape Verde, according to de la Fuente. However, the lengthy wait before his introduction contradicted earlier assurances regarding his readiness. “There’s no feeling of pressure, no sense of emergency. Sometimes the criticism motivates you and this is a generation of players that is very competitive. Players see [what’s said].” de la Fuente explained at the time.
“There is a moment when it stops being about tactics. This team has heart and always responds.” de la Fuente noted. As Spain prepares to face Saudi Arabia, questions remain about the number of minutes Lamine Yamal will play and when he might be introduced. De la Fuente hinted that he would prefer to utilize him in the second half, a critical time for winning matches. However, he shared tentative time estimates of “We were sad those first 24 hours but we have turned it around now,” minutes for the young star.
“I’m surprised because if this midfield has a characteristic quality it’s not exactly that it slows the game down” de la Fuente mentioned. Six days later, the atmosphere has brightened, with a growing sentiment that the harsh criticism following their opening match may have been excessive. The players are also motivated to prove the critics wrong, with de la Fuente noting, “What am I even supposed to say to that?”
He further stated, “It was not a brilliant game but nor was it really bad: there are things we can take from it. We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third which I think is going to be the key. I don’t think it’s a physical problem, I think it’s more that touch of precision. The day after wasn’t easy but that shows we care, that we’re pissed off at not winning, and that we feel the need to win. Our confidence has not dropped; we have walked a long path together and we trust each other to turn this around.”
Unity remains a priority for the squad. The players frequently emphasize their close-knit nature. On Saturday, Laporte shared a light-hearted moment about playing Fortnite with the younger members of the team, who enjoy teasing him. Ultimately, it was just one match, and they did not even suffer a loss. Additionally, Uruguay’s draw later that night meant there was no deficit to overcome.
“We were annoyed, which is the way it should be,” Zubimendi stated on Saturday. He also dismissed claims that Spain’s ball movement was slow, asserting, “But it’s also true that we are unbeaten in 32. We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always to. To say: ‘We’re here.’” He defended Rodri against unexpected criticism, asking, “What am I even supposed to say to that?”
Zubimendi added, “It was not a brilliant game but nor was it really bad: there are things we can take from it. We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third which I think is going to be the key. I don’t think it’s a physical problem; I think it’s more that touch of precision. The day after wasn’t easy but that shows we care, that we’re pissed off at not winning, and that we feel the need to win. Our confidence has not dropped; we have walked a long path together and we trust each other to turn this around.”
Spain is determined not to let anyone impede their progress. “We were annoyed, which is the way it should be,” Laporte remarked. “But it’s also true that we are unbeaten in 32. We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always do. To say: ‘We’re here.’”
