Spain were simply in a different stratosphere to Cape Verde. De la Fuente's 4-3-3 pressed high and recycled possession with ruthless efficiency, exploiting the wide channels through Yamal and Williams — two of the most electrifying forwards at this tournament. Rodri's role as the deep-lying pivot was critical: he screened the back four, dictated tempo, and prevented Cape Verde from ever building momentum in transition. The Blue Sharks' 4-4-2 compact block held for roughly 20 minutes before Spain's quality overwhelmed it. The red card for Monteiro was the final nail in the coffin. For Cape Verde, their World Cup debut was a harsh lesson in the gap between AFCON-level football and the elite of international football. For Spain, this is a statement: they are organised, deep in quality, and tactically flexible — genuine contenders for the title.

• Spain registered 68% possession — their tiki-taka DNA fully intact under De la Fuente.
• Lamine Yamal (18) became the youngest Spanish scorer in World Cup history with his 14th-minute opener.
• Rodri completed 97 of 103 attempted passes (94.2%) — a midfield stranglehold.
• Jamiro Monteiro's double yellow (54') left Cape Verde with 10 men for the final 36 minutes, effectively ending the contest.
• Nico Williams created 4 chances and scored 1 goal — the most direct threat on the night.
• Cape Verde's xG of 0.28 reflects how rarely they threatened; their single shot on target was comfortable for Simón.
• Spain's 4-0 margin is their joint-biggest opening World Cup win since 2010.