Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has explained his team's 0-0 opening-group draw with Cape Verde, attributing the stalemate to lack of precision despite creating chances. De la Fuente said his side "created a lot of chances," but Cape Verde played "very organized" defense and "it was very difficult to use space."
"We lacked coordination and freshness, but when the ball just doesn't go in, it just doesn't go in," de la Fuente told AS. He emphasized he was focusing on "gradually integrating new footballers into the team" and giving them playing time, reflecting Spain's youth integration strategy at the tournament.
De la Fuente expressed confidence heading into Spain's second Group H match against Saudi Arabia on June 21, stating: "I am sure that in the next match and in all the others they will play better, as they did in the game with Saudi Arabia." Spain and Cape Verde both sit on one point atop Group H after round one.
Spain's failure to convert dominance into goals may prompt market repricing of group-winner odds, while questions around their finishing efficiency could affect tournament-favorite assessments.