Spain vs Cape Verde: Mikel Oyarzabal makes unwanted FIFA World Cup history despite La Roja’s dominance

Spain’s World Cup match against Cape Verde produced one of the strangest statistics in tournament history. Spain striker Mikel Oyarzabal did not touch the ball once during the opening 30 minutes, even though Spain controlled possession and created chance after chance.

The Real Sociedad forward finally recorded his first touch in the 31st minute, becoming the first player on record to go the first half-hour of a World Cup match without a single touch of the ball.

Mikel Oyarzabal’s unusual World Cup record during Spain vs Cape Verde

Spain spent most of the game attacking and kept Cape Verde pinned back for long periods. Yet Mikel Oyarzabal, who started as the lone striker, remained largely isolated despite his team seeing plenty of the ball.The statistic quickly caught attention online. One fan wrote: “My golden boot shout isn’t starting well.”Another said: “I didn’t believe this was even possible at all, imagine playing football for 30 minutes and not touching the ball once, must be surreal.”A third fan added: “This is lowkey the craziest stat I’ve ever heard.”What made the record even more surprising was Spain’s control of the match. La Roja finished with 74 percent possession and constantly pushed forward, but Oyarzabal was unable to get involved during the opening stages.

Spain held by Cape Verde as Vozinha produces heroic goalkeeping display

While Spain dominated possession, they could not find a way past Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. The match ended 0-0, giving Cape Verde a memorable point on their World Cup debut.Spain created opportunities throughout the contest and finished with 27 shots, but every time they looked close to scoring, Vozinha came up with an answer. The veteran goalkeeper made seven important saves and frustrated the European champions from start to finish.After the final whistle, emotions got the better of him as he was seen in tears following his standout performance. The result was a major achievement for Cape Verde, who defended with discipline throughout the game. They also conceded just one foul across the entire match, showing remarkable control under pressure.Spain will feel they left points behind after controlling so much of the game. Still, the night will also be remembered for Mikel Oyarzabal’s unwanted place in World Cup history, a record few expected to see in a match where Spain spent most of the evening on the attack.