Spanish midfielder Rodri has voiced his frustration with Cape Verde’s negative game plan following a goalless draw in their World Cup Group opener on Monday. The Manchester City star accused the African side of showing no ambition to progress beyond their own half, opting instead to defend deep throughout the match.
“It wasn’t meant to be. There’s little to complain about,” Rodri told La 1 after the final whistle. “We knew patience would be key. They sat back and retreated very quickly. We created opportunities but failed to convert them. The positive takeaway is that they barely threatened us. We need to sharpen our finishing.”
This result leaves Spain with a point as they prepare to face Saudi Arabia in their next group stage fixture this weekend. The draw highlights the challenges that top teams face against disciplined defensive setups, a recurring theme in World Cup openers.