David Villa praises Cape Verde's defense after Spain's goalless draw at the 2026 World Cup

Former Spain top striker David Villa gave his view on the spectacle that ended in a goalless draw (0-0) after the 2026 World Cup match between Spain and Cape Verde. In the first game of the group stage, Spain was surprised by the tough Cape Verde, partly due to the missed opportunities of the Spanish formation.

Villa was confronted with the statement that as a striker he might have taken some of those opportunities. His response was realistic: 'You never know for sure when you're on the field. I have also missed many opportunities in my career. Ultimately, people mainly remember the successes, not the missed opportunities.'


According to Villa, Cape Verde deserves particular praise for the solid defense and the strong performance of their goalkeeper. "You have to recognize that Cape Verde's defense and especially their goalkeeper were excellent," Villa told Mundo Deportivo.

After this surprising result, Spain is already looking ahead. In the next group match, 'La Roja' will face Saudi Arabia on June 21, where the team of national coach Luis de la Fuente hopes for the first victory of this tournament.