Piala Dunia 2026: Spanyol dan Portugal Tertahan, Prancis, Argentina dan Inggris Bersinar

The 2026 World Cup is only a few days old, but the competitive landscape is already producing interesting stories. While Spain and Portugal failed to live up to expectations with disappointing draws, France, Argentina, and England demonstrated their class with convincing wins that sent a strong signal to their rivals. This contrasting phenomenon was one of the main topics of the ITSMe podcast, hosted by Gilang Respaty and Yatna at the ITSMe Studio in Sentul, Bogor. Football observers Ronny Pangemanan and Erwin Fitriansyah highlighted how the pressure of major tournaments often produces a story that differs from the predictions on paper. Spain came under scrutiny after being held to a 0-0 draw by debutants Cape Verde. Luis de la Fuente's team dominated possession and created numerous chances, but failed to convert them into goals. In fact, several European media outlets highlighted the lack of effectiveness of La Roja's attack, despite their dominance for most of the match. Coach Luis de la Fuente himself admitted that his team lacked sharpness and creativity in the final third. According to Ronny Pangemanan, the result shows that dominating possession is no longer enough to guarantee victory at the highest level. "Teams considered smaller are now much more tactically disciplined. Spain controlled possession, but were unable to break down the opponent's defense. That's a serious challenge," he said. Meanwhile, Portugal also failed to live up to expectations when they only managed a 1-1 draw against Congo. Having taken an early lead, Portugal lost momentum after their opponents equalized. Cristiano Ronaldo's performance has again become a topic of debate. Several international media outlets and former players have questioned the 41-year-old superstar's effectiveness after failing to capitalize on several key opportunities. Erwin Fitriansyah believes that criticism of Portugal is not solely directed at Ronaldo, but also concerns the team's overall approach to play. "Portugal has many young and creative players, but their rhythm dropped after taking the lead. Congo was able to read the situation and exploit the gaps," Erwin said. On the other hand, France, Argentina, and England demonstrated the mentality of champion candidates. All three teams were able to start the tournament with convincing wins, demonstrating a balance between individual quality, game organization, and effective finishing. This result also sends a message to their competitors that they're not coming to North America just to spice things up, but to chase the world championship trophy. Ronny Pangemanan believes the biggest difference lies in effectiveness. "France, Argentina, and England don't always have to dominate matches. But when opportunities arise, they are able to capitalize on them. That's what we didn't see from Spain and Portugal in their first match." The 2026 World Cup is still a long way off. But one important lesson has been apparent since the opening week: a great reputation doesn't guarantee victory. Spain and Portugal now face pressure to bounce back quickly, while France, Argentina, and England have established themselves as worthy contenders in the hunt for the world title. #WorldCup2026 #SpainVsCapeVerde #PortugalVsCongo #FrenchNationalTeam #EnglandNationalTeam #ArgentinaNationalTeam