HLV Nguyễn Trọng Giang: 'Spain has rediscovered its killer instinct'

The second matchday of the group presented completely contrasting storylines. Spain bounced back impressively by thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0, taking the lead in the group standings. In the following game, Uruguay caused major frustration by being held to a 2-2 stalemate against the weaker side, Cape Verde.

Commenting on the performance of the former world champions, Mr. Nguyễn Trọng Giang, assistant coach of Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh Club, analyzed: "Spain's approach to the match showed an enormous hunger for victory after their less-than-ideal opening game.

From the very first whistle, they surged into the opponent's half, continuously pressing high and applying pressure through various attacking methods. Spain's system operated very fluidly in this match, with vertical through-balls that tore apart Saudi Arabia's defense.

Lamine Yamal's early opener in the 10th minute was a turning point that relieved Spain's psychological pressure. Most importantly, attacking stars like Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo, and Nico Williams rediscovered their form and their inherent killer instinct. Under the guidance of coach Luis de la Fuente, Spain delivered a powerful response to the doubts that existed before the tournament."

Alongside the resurgence of "La Roja," the V-League club's assistant coach also paid special attention to the emotional performance of Cape Verde against Uruguay: "The 2-2 draw with Uruguay shows that Cape Verde's point against Spain in the opening match was no fluke. In fact, they didn't just park the bus on the opponent's turf; they took the initiative, played expansively with a 4-1-4-1 formation, and were ready to engage in open exchanges.

Their opening goal from a direct free kick was truly a masterpiece, a magical moment that deserves to be a strong candidate for the best goal of the 2026 World Cup.

It felt as though Cape Verde, after drawing with Spain, entered this match with an incredibly carefree mentality. They played without any pressure, savoring the atmosphere and the greatest football festival on the planet in the most romantic way possible.

The biggest strength of the African representatives is their abundant physical foundation; the players move tirelessly at high intensity for the full 90 minutes.

If they can maintain this energy in the final group match against Saudi Arabia, they can rightfully dream of a victory that would create another fairy tale story at this year's World Cup."