World Cup Nights: Cape Verde stun Spain on a night of draws

A Cup night short on big goals but full of surprises: four games, four draws. In Group H, European champions Spain crash into a Cape Verde wall (0-0) on the debutants' big night, while Saudi Arabia snatch a 1-1 from Bielsa's Uruguay. In Group G, Belgium-Egypt finishes 1-1 and Iran-New Zealand is a 2-2 thriller. Tonight Groups I and J take over, with France, Haaland's Norway and reigning champions Argentina.

The shock of the night comes from Atlanta. At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, European champions Spain fire 27 shots — seven on target — but can't find a way through: it ends 0-0 against Cape Verde, in the islanders' first-ever World Cup match. The hero is 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who denies Oyarzabal, Laporte and Ferran Torres (woodwork included); at the other end Diney Borges almost pulls off the heist late on, stopped by Unai Simón. Not even the introductions of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Nico Williams change the script: Cape Verde, a nation of fewer than half a million people, become the seventh team ever to avoid defeat on their World Cup debut. In Miami, meanwhile, Saudi Arabia dare to dream: Abdulelah Al Amri strikes in the first half and holds off Bielsa's Uruguay (67% possession, a Celeste record) for over an hour, before Maxi Araújo levels on 80'.

Draws in Group G too. In Seattle, Egypt almost land a first, historic World Cup win: Emam Ashour breaks the deadlock on 19' from a Mohamed Salah assist, the talisman shining on his 34th birthday. Belgium are stuck until 66', when it takes Romelu Lukaku just 22 seconds off the bench to force a Mohamed Hany own goal from Meunier's cross: 1-1, and the Pharaohs' wait for a maiden World Cup joy now stretches to 92 years. In Inglewood, finally, pure theatre: New Zealand go ahead twice through Elijah Just (7' and 54'), but Iran always reply, via Ramin Rezaeian (32') and Mohammad Mohebi (64'). It ends 2-2, with Taremi close to a late winner: Group G is desperately tight, all four teams level on 1 point.

It's a night for the underdogs — and the quotes. 'It means everything: the world saw our country, our organisation, our courage and our resilience,' beamed Cape Verde boss Bubista. From the other dugout, Luis de la Fuente stayed unmoved: 'This team is reliable, whatever happens — we haven't lost in 32 games. We'll be better in the next match, we're convinced of it: we are the champions of Europe.' Translation: no red alert, but Spain's group just got a lot steeper.

Tonight, Groups I and J take the stage. It starts at 9pm Italian time with France, among the outright favourites, opening against a hugely respected Senegal at New York's MetLife Stadium. At midnight it's the turn of Erling Haaland's Norway, finally at his first World Cup, against Iraq. In the dead of night comes the headline act: at 3am reigning world champions Argentina begin their title defence against Algeria, with the usual question mark over Lionel Messi; at 6am, to close, Austria face debutants Jordan, one of four first-timers at this tournament.

On we go, one night at a time. See you tomorrow at dawn.

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