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Lamine Yamal was comforted by his girlfriend Ines Garcia after Spain were unexpectedly held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde in their opening match of the World Cup. The Barcelona youngster came off the bench but could not make the decisive difference as La Roja missed several chances and dropped two crucial points in Group H.

Spain’s Group H campaign began with disappointment as Luis de la Fuente’s men were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Despite dominating possession and territory, Spain struggled to breach a well-organised Cape Verde defence that stood firm throughout the encounter.

Yamal started the game on the bench and was introduced for the final 20 minutes as Spain desperately searched for a winning goal. The 18-year-old injected pace and creativity into the attack, but his efforts were not enough to break the deadlock. The result leaves Spain with ground to make up in Group H and adds pressure ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

After the final whistle, Yamal was seen reuniting with friends and family who had travelled to the United States to support him. Among them was his girlfriend, Spanish influencer and model Ines Garcia.

Garcia, who confirmed her relationship with Yamal last month, was spotted wearing a Spain jersey featuring the young forward’s name and number as she joined his inner circle following the frustrating result.

The statistics clearly reflected Spain’s dominance on the night. De la Fuente’s team enjoyed 62 per cent of possession and registered 23 shots on goal but were unable to find the clinical edge required to seal victory.

For Cape Verde, however, the result was historic. Their disciplined defensive display secured a famous point against one of the pre-tournament favourites, marking one of the most memorable moments in the nation’s footballing history.

Goalkeeper Vozinha, aged 40, was instrumental in Cape Verde’s success. The veteran produced several crucial saves, maintaining a clean sheet and withstanding Spain’s relentless pressure from start to finish.

Spain will now look to bounce back quickly from this early setback and sharpen their finishing ahead of their next Group H clash against Saudi Arabia on June 21.

As for Yamal, his immediate goal will be to reclaim a starting spot and provide the attacking spark that Spain lacked in Atlanta. With encouragement from Garcia and his family, the teenager will aim to play a more prominent role as La Roja attempt to reignite their World Cup pursuit.

The question now is how far Spain can progress in this World Cup after their unexpected early stumble.