Spain held 0–0, Yamal admits fitness doubt ahead of Saudi Arabia

Spain 0–0 Cape Verde: what just happened?

That was not in the script. Your team, the European champions and tournament favourites, opened their World Cup against debutants Cape Verde at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the scoreboard read 0–0 at full time. Luis de la Fuente left Lamine Yamal on the bench, started Rodri, Gavi, and Unai Simon, and the goals never came. One Spanish outlet called it "do or die" territory now (2).

Saudi Arabia on Sunday: one result that matters

Win, or the group is out of your hands. Spain face Saudi Arabia on Sunday at 18:00 CET, and after Uruguay's result in the other Group H match, this is already a knockout game in all but name. The prediction piece spells it out plainly: Spain need the first win (2). No margin for error.

Lamine Yamal: "I'm not ready for 90 minutes"

Yamal has admitted it himself. "Lamine Yamal s'est dit incapable de jouer une rencontre entière malgré une motivation totale", he cannot play 90 minutes despite being fully motivated (8). De la Fuente kept him on the bench against Cape Verde. Against Saudi Arabia, the question is how many minutes Yamal can give you, not whether he starts. Pau Cubarsí did not hide what Yamal means to this side: "Als Lamine Yamal speelt, maakt hij het verschil", when he plays, he makes the difference (9).

Cubarsí backs his teammate to turn it around

The Barcelona defender is convinced the spark is there. Cubarsí pointed straight at Yamal as the game-changer Spain need after the Cape Verde stalemate (9). The dressing room knows one moment of Yamal magic changes everything, but the 90-minute admission hangs over every selection decision.

Munoz injury setback

Victor Munoz, the new Liverpool signing, is set to miss more of this World Cup after an injury setback (4). De la Fuente's attacking options are thinning at exactly the wrong moment. A forward short on fitness, a teenager who says he cannot last the full game, and a must-win fixture on Sunday.

Fan reactions: 48 teams, and some unexpected fun

The expanded format is splitting opinion, but some fans are leaning in. One Reddit thread rounding up the opening round, Cape Verde vs Spain, Switzerland vs Bosnia, Canada vs Qatar, Congo vs Portugal, summed it up: "Dare I say it, but I'm enjoying the 48 teams. Some of the line ups have been really fun." Not the reaction Spain fans expected to feature in, but the goalless draw has made your team part of the tournament's strangest opening storyline.

See the discussion on Reddit