Spain won Euro 2024 in impressive fashion. However, they lost the Nations League final to Portugal on penalties. Nevertheless, during qualification, only Turkey managed to snatch a draw from them, with Spain winning all other matches. They failed to score against Egypt in a friendly in March. In June, they also drew 1-1 with Iraq, but finally managed to beat Peru.
Cape Verde surprised everyone by earning the right to debut at the World Cup. They won their qualification group, collecting 23 points in ten matches and beating favorite Cameroon to first place. They missed the AFCON, and in friendlies, their only regulation-time win came against Serbia in March. They repeated a 3-0 scoreline against Bermuda.
The European champions are in good form: averaging 2.8 goals scored and only 0.4 conceded per match. The African side averages 1.9 goals scored and 0.9 conceded per game.
Previous Matches: Spain vs Cape Verde
This will be the first head-to-head meeting between the teams.
It is hard to expect much intrigue. The favorite is set for a big win—bet on their victory with a handicap of “-2.5 goals” (odds – 1.88).
Spain vs Cape Verde: Key Statistics and Trends
Spain have drawn three out of their last five matches
30% of Spain’s matches end with both teams scoring, with an average total of 3.2 goals per match
Cape Verde have won two of their last seven matches
40% of Cape Verde’s matches end with both teams scoring, with an average total of 2.8 goals per game
Spain vs Cape Verde: Probable Starting Lineups
Spain plays in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Simon – Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Llorente – Pedri, Rodri – Ruiz, Baena, Oyarzabal – Torres. Yamal is likely to come on as a substitute only, Williams and Muñoz are injured.
Cape Verde lines up in a 1-5-4-1 formation (probable lineup): Mendes – Livramento, Moreira, Costa, Stopira, Telmo Arcanjo – Joao Paulo Fernandes, Duarte, Cabral, Willy Semedo – Marcio Rosa.
