Unai Simón said in the mixed zone after Spain's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their first FIFA World Cup match that, based solely on FIFA rankings, Spain had been expected to win. However, he also emphasized that the team lacked sharpness in front of goal against an opponent with "a very solid defense."
On the match result
Our start was not what we wanted. Looking at the FIFA rankings, we knew we should have won this game, but Cape Verde's defense was very solid, and we lacked sharpness in front of goal. Their goalkeeper Vozinha played well, and we also missed a few chances, so we could not score in the end. That is football; we still need to persevere and trust the coach's game plan.
We did not allow Cape Verde to play much. In the next few games, you will see that they are actually a very strong team capable of playing good football. We pressed well in this match and did not give them many opportunities. Now, we need to continue persevering and trusting our style of play. For the next match against Saudi Arabia, we need to maintain this form while performing better offensively to secure three points.
On the team's defense
We defended very well in this match. We underestimated Cape Verde because their strengths are not limited to defending; their attacking ability is also very strong, as you will see in the next few games. Offense is a team effort, and our organization starts with me, the goalkeeper, and the center-backs. I think we did well in that regard. We kept trying to break through Cape Verde's defense, but the final pass and the final shot were just slightly off. Looking at the players in our team, this situation is actually not common, and I believe we will improve in the subsequent matches.
On the feelings during the final stages of the match
It was more difficult than outsiders might have imagined. The score remained level, especially in the final few minutes, when you saw Laporte pushed up into the striker position and Cucurella constantly pressing forward, leaving our defense almost one-on-one. I was thinking, 'What's going on?' That period was indeed somewhat chaotic. In addition to their counter-attacks, we also won a corner kick, but because an earlier defensive situation was not dealt with well, it led to a headed attempt by the opponent.
Acknowledging Cape Verde's Performance
This draw also deserves full credit to the opponent. They defended with almost a six-man backline, with their wingers also tracking back to help defensively. It is already difficult to break through such a defense, especially given the excellent physical condition of their players. I don't think we played chaotically, nor do I think there were any issues with our physical condition. We must acknowledge the opponent’s performance, while also recognizing our own defensive display in this match, at least in terms of not giving them too many clear-cut chances.
Cape Verde can either press man-to-man in the attacking third or drop back as a block, as they did today. We knew before the game that if they dropped deep, given their players' physical attributes, it would not be easy to break them down. We had to find a way to make them run. If we constantly attempted individual breakthroughs or forced passes into the channels or behind the defense, their counter-attacks would be very dangerous once they intercepted the ball.
So, we needed to keep moving the ball, stretch them out, wear them down, and then create space. It was only around the 20th to 25th minute that we created our first wave of chances. After that, their defense gradually opened up and their stamina dropped, allowing us to find attacking space more consistently. It is normal for the start of the game to be difficult; with an opponent setting up in such a low block, we first had to get them moving.