0-0! 1-1! The world's second and ninth-ranked teams both caused upsets, with Spain and Belgium stumbling. European teams only managed three wins in ten matches.

On June 16, Beijing time, the World Cup group stage continued with two matches that both ended in upsets. Spain, ranked second globally, was surprisingly held to a 0-0 draw by the small African nation of Cape Verde. Belgium, ranked ninth, also faced an upset as they drew 1-1 with Egypt. This means that out of ten European teams that have played in the World Cup so far, only three have managed to win. Truly, this result is rather surprising!

Spain, a top favorite and World Cup champion, faced Cape Verde, a massive underdog. Many expected Spain’s star-studded lineup to cruise to an easy victory, but their hopes were dashed by an impenetrable defense. Cape Verde’s defensive efforts were remarkable, and their goalkeeper delivered an extraordinary performance to withstand Spain’s relentless attacks. In the final moments, Cape Verde even had a chance to secure a last-minute winner but failed to capitalize. Still, holding mighty Spain to a 0-0 draw has made history for Cape Verde. Overnight, they became a household name, and many will now remember this small African nation with a population of just 540,000!

Belgium faced Egypt in their match. This World Cup marks the last dance for Belgium’s golden generation. Although expectations were high for them to perform well, reality proved harsh. Against the tough African side Egypt, who exhibited sharp technical skills and fluid teamwork, Belgium found no advantage on the pitch. They fell behind to an Egyptian goal but managed to equalize thanks to an own goal forced by Lukaku, ultimately drawing 1-1 to scrape a point. This result can be seen as a minor upset!

It’s worth noting that this tournament has seen numerous upsets, showing that teams from around the world are improving. However, the performance of European teams has been disappointing. Out of ten European sides, only three—Ireland, Sweden, and Germany—have secured wins. The other seven have failed to win, with Switzerland, Spain, and Turkey all dominating possession yet ending up with losses or draws. This suggests a significant decline in European standards. Perhaps this is the charm of the World Cup—players can unleash their maximum potential on such a grand stage!

Watch the World Cup on Migu Video for an endless stream of thrilling matches!

By Sports Novel

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