Gavin Cooney

God, it sounds like an idyllic life in Cape Verde.

It does, doesn't it?

Remarkable stuff.

This is one of the better World Cup stories that has ever been written, I think.

A 2-2 draw against Uruguay, a team that are vulnerable giants, can we call them that?

They don't have a vintage crop of players under Marcelo Bielsa, but they're two-time winners of this competition.

So for Cape Verde to draw 2-2 with them

It's obviously a big one-off result, but they've now got a brilliant chance of qualifying for the knockout rounds.

I mean, they could easily finish second in this group.

A draw against Saudi Arabia in the final match in a few days' time, combined with a Spain win against Uruguay, will send Cape Verde through as group runners-up.

And a draw will probably be enough to qualify out of the third spot in the group, regardless of what Spain do against Uruguay.

It's a remarkable story and it's got quite a bit of runway left.

No, they were woeful.

They were really, really poor.

And they were overwhelmed by a very different Spanish team than drew at Cape Verde because Laminia Mal is back, the teenage sensation.

He's not fully fit.

He's minding a hamstring injury and they took him off at halftime.

But you could see how his introduction, they added another winger in Alex Baena on the opposite wing.

You could just see how that transformed the Spanish team.

So if La Minimal can remain fit and get back to full fitness for this tournament, then Spain are going to take some serious stopping.