Spain vs Cape Verde LIVE: World Cup match stream, latest score and goal updates

Lamine Yamal expected to make injury return as European champions face debutants in Group H

World Cup debut: Lamine Yamal is set to make his first appearance on football’s biggest stage

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Ronan Sullivan

3 minutes ago

Spain vs Cape Verde LIVE!

The World Cup action continues this afternoon as Spain face Cape Verde in the Group H curtain-raiser in Atlanta. On paper, it is another huge mismatch to follow Germany’s 7-1 rout of Curacao, as many people’s tournament favourites take on more finals debutants. Spain are the reigning European champions who will be eager to make up for three disappointing showings on football’s grandest stage following their first triumph in 2010, with a shock group stage exit followed by back-to-back last-16 defeats.

La Roja have teenage superstar Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams back available for their first game, as well as Victor Munoz, though both start on the bench after recovering from respective hamstring injuries. Cape Verde’s 26-man squad are based entirely overseas, with the bulk of them in Europe - including ex-Nottingham Forest duo Ryan Mendes and Nuno da Costa.

The Blue Sharks may be something of an unknown quantity to a global audience, but have reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals twice since 2013 and will want to prove they can compete in a group that also contains Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Follow Spain vs Cape Verde live below!

Spain vs Cape Verde latest news

Cape Fear for Cape Verde?

With just over ten minutes to kick-off - do the debutants have any hope here?

Jamiro Monteiro warms up

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No Real Madrid players?

There’s no Real Madrid players in Spain’s World Cup squad - a first.

Boss Luis de la Fuente said his squad was “perfect”, so I doubt he cares.

Fun fact: Sunderland (12) have more players than Real Madrid (10) at this World Cup.

Bonkers.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente

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Warm-ups

Here’s a couple of picture of the Spain team heading out to the pitch for their warm-ups, led by Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

There’s former City man Aymeric Laporte in the background too.

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Empty seats galore?

With all the issues we’ve seen so far of empty seats and exorbitant ticket prices at this year’s World Cup - I wonder if we’ll see the same today in Atlanta?

Spain awaits

Anticipation is building now as fans trickle into the stadium.

Spain will hope for a start similar to Germany’s against Curacao yesterday, who they spanked 7-1.

A young Spain fan at the Mercedes-Benz Arena

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No Cucurella, no party?

Much-maligned for that chant after Spain’s Euro 2024 win, where he talks about Estrella (among other things), Marc Cucurella has today secured a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid for about £51m.

Was it the lure of working under incoming boss Jose Mourinho?

Cucurella actually came up through Barcelona’s youth academy, before leaving without making a first-team appearance.

He starts today.

Madrid Man: Marc Cucurella

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Simon starts over Raya

Arsenal’s David Raya is on the bench for Spain today, with de la Fuente preferring Athletic Bilbao ‘keeper Unai Simon.

Is that the right decision? Raya has been one of the best goalkeepers in Europe this season.

I hope that decision doesn’t come back to haunt de la Fuente.

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Unai Simon (top), David Raya (bottom)

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Lamal and Williams on the bench

After injury scares heading into the tournament, Spain boss de la Fuente has decided it’s best to leave his two attacking starlets on the bench.

With this likely being Spain’s easiest group game, it’s a sensible decision.

Yamal and Williams alongside Victor Munoz at a June friendly

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Cape Verde XI!

And here’s Cape Verde’s starting XI, with Mendes and Pico starting:

Cape Verde XI: Vozinha, Moreira, Pico, Diney, Lopes Cabral, Lenini, L Duarte, Mendes, Jamiro, J Cabral, Livramento

Mendes starts in Cape Verde and manager Bubista’s World Cup debut

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Spain starting XI announced!

Yamal is indeed on the bench as Torres and Oyarzabal start up front:

Spain XI: Simon; Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Fabian, Rodri (c), Pedri; Torres, Oyarzabal, Gavi

Benched: Lamine Yamal

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