Cape Verde’s 0‑0 draw with Spain has become the tournament’s headline upset. The tiny island nation deployed a disciplined 4‑5‑1 shape, squeezing the gap between midfield and defence to deny Spain space. By refusing to chase back‑passes, they forced the Spaniards into low‑risk, wide switches that never broke the block. Their PPDA sat at 51.2, far above Spain’s 5.9, earning goalkeeper Vozinha man‑of‑the‑match honours.

Similar tactics saw Ghana hold England to a draw, as teams posted a PPDA above 60 early, indicating minimal pressing. By keeping two lines just outside the penalty area, Ghana limited England’s ability to play through the middle, forcing the visitors onto the flanks where they struggled to create chances. Ghana’s PPDA rose to 62 in the final quarter as they sought a late winner.

South Africa’s 2‑1 win over South Korea illustrated another winning formula: short goal‑kicks, wide spacing and rapid forward passes that drew the Korean press into chasing long distances. Teams that covered the pitch’s width and maintained a compact block, such as Cape Verde and Ghana, consistently earned points against higher‑ranked opponents. The pattern shows disciplined structure can outweigh technical superiority.