Spain's starting lineup stumbles without Lamine Yamal in stunning FIFA World Cup result against Cape Verde

It's time for Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente to turn forward Lamine Yamal loose after his squad's underwhelming opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Yamal, who turns 19 on July 13, suffered a torn hamstring in April, ending his La Liga season with FC Barcelona. Fuente didn't start the teenage sensation in Spain's Group H match against Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday to help him get back to speed. He shouldn't have waited 71 minutes to insert him into the lineup. 

Spain flopped without Lamine Yamal in the starting lineup 

Spain is viewed as one of the favorites to win the World Cup. As such, it may have underestimated Cape Verde and its star goalie Vozinha.

Vozinha, one of seven players who entered the tournament at 40 or older, went 7-2-1 in World Cup qualifying and logged seven clean sheets (matches in which no goals were allowed). The 40-year-old goalie delivered again in his first World Cup match in his career. 

Vozinha logged seven saves in Monday's match. His best stop came in the 38th minute when he rejected forward Mikel Oyarzabal, who tried to head the ball into the net after forward Ferran Torres hit the crossbar.