Ibiza in Spain is famous for its celebrity vacations. There are many other stunning beaches in the country. But are there sharks there?
So, why is there talk of sharks before the Spain-Cape Verde match? You may not know that the tiny island nation of Cape Verde has a football nickname of ‘Blue Shark’. Can they bite Spain in their first ever World Cup match? If Cape Verde is the shark, then Spain is the blue whale, right?
Spain seems to be more concerned about themselves than their opponents Cape Verde. Who knows what awaits them in their first match at the World Cup! Think back to the last three World Cups.
A 5-1 rout of the Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup. A 3-3 draw with Portugal in the next World Cup. A 7-0 rout of Costa Rica again in the 2022 World Cup. Although the opening match was unpredictable, one thing can be predicted: Spain’s opening match means a lot of goals. Again, Spain has not been able to pass the last sixteen barrier once in these three World Cups.
Having overcome that hurdle, Spain is now one of the favorites in the eyes of many. After Luis de la Fuente took charge, Spain has been playing great football since Euro 2024. Who will paint the picture of the golden trophy that Andres Iniesta brought to the Iberian Peninsula at the Johannesburg Football City Stadium?
Spanish star Lamine YamalReuters
The one on whom the most bets are, Lamine Yamal, is in doubt this time. After getting injured in a La Liga match in April, Yamal initially thought his World Cup was over!
He may be recovering from the intense pressure of playing in the World Cup ahead of schedule. Although there were initially doubts about his availability in the group stage, De la Fuente said two days ago that Yamal could return in the first match. He has also started training with the team. He may be seen for some time, if not from the start, against Cape Verde today.
There are also injuries. The chemistry of Yamal on the right wing and Nico Williams on the left wing was Spain’s secret formula at the Euros. Williams is also recovering, as is another forward, Victor Munoz, who is recovering from an injury. If these three are not available, Fuente will have to think of alternatives for both wings.
Cape Verde will play in the World Cup for the first timeX
Of course, Spain’s depth shouldn’t be a problem. Don’t just look at the midfield—Rodri, Pedri, and Fabian Ruiz are among the best in the World Cup. That’s why players like Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo, and Martin Zubimendi may also have to sit on the bench. Bilbao’s Unai Simeone, Arsenal’s David Raya, and Barcelona’s Juan Garcia—Fuente also has a problem with the goalkeeper. Pau Kuberci, Aymeric Laporte, and Marc Cucurella are providing reliability in defense.Read more
Van Dijk doesn’t like FIFA’s ‘hydration break’
In front of this Spanish team, Cape Verde is supposed to fly away. The country with a population of just over half a million has passed the World Cup qualifiers from Africa, leaving behind continental superpowers like Cameroon. With the blessings of expatriate footballers, their dream of a World Cup has come true.
Dylan Livramento, who plays in the Portuguese league, is probably their biggest star. But compared to the starry sky of Spain, Cape Verde is a distant constellation. Is there any comparison between the second-ranked team and the 67th-ranked team? You tell me!
