While all the big-hitters around them experience a glut of goals and drama, depending on which way you glance, Spain continue their methodical and altogether stress-free path to the latter stages of the World Cup. Sure, they are lacking France’s all-out firepower. Sure, they are lacking a leading talisman in Argentina’s Lionel Messi or England’s Harry Kane. But as a cohesive unit, ticking over possession and grounding their opposition into submission, there is still no collective well-rounded team better at this World Cup 2026 than La Roja.
In Los Angeles on Thursday, they made a statement. Across the board, the Spanish had too much suave and poise for an Austrian outfit who, after their incredible stoppage-time equaliser against Algeria last Saturday, had run out of steam. For Mikel Oyarzabal, there was another World Cup brace to back up his tally against Saudi Arabia as he ruthlessly capitalised on two pinpoint crosses from Marc Cucurella. In between those goals came a first international goal for Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, who took advantage of his starting pick ahead of Marcos Llorente. A tougher test lies in wait in the last-16, mind: either Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal or Luka Modric’s Croatia in Dallas on Monday.
Records continue to tumble for Luis de la Fuente’s unrelenting outfit. They’ve now levelled the 35-game unbeaten run of the 2007-2009 golden generation and are now just two games away from the all-time international record, set by Roberto Mancini’s Italy team who won Euro 2020. For keeper Unai Simón, No 1 over ******* nal’s David Raya, a fifth consecutive World Cup clean sheet, tying Italy in 1990 and Switzerland between 2006 and 2010. And it’s the first time they’ve scored more than one goal in a knockout game since 1994, would you believe? The omens for the Spanish are tantalisingly promising.
All that was missing, in essence, was a Lamine Yamal goal. The irresistible winger, not 19 years of age for another 11 days, came close on several occasions but, unlike Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Messi and Kane out in front, a fight for the golden boot looks beyond him. Still, he looked terrific in spurts here; unequivocally the most potent attacking threat for his country.
For Spain, this was a first-ever game in California, nd they could well be back in eight days, with a potential quarter-final against the USA or Belgium. Here, they were met with stiflingly dense conditions, adding to the humidity in this greenhouse-spaceship of an arena. And from De la Fuente’s team selection, a record-breaking faith in youth: in selecting Barcelona duo Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, the pair were the first teenagers to start a World Cup knockout match for 68 years, since a certain Pele and Jose Altafini for Brazil in 1958. That side, of course, won the tournament.
In Los Angeles on Thursday, they made a statement. Across the board, the Spanish had too much suave and poise for an Austrian outfit who, after their incredible stoppage-time equaliser against Algeria last Saturday, had run out of steam. For Mikel Oyarzabal, there was another World Cup brace to back up his tally against Saudi Arabia as he ruthlessly capitalised on two pinpoint crosses from Marc Cucurella. In between those goals came a first international goal for Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, who took advantage of his starting pick ahead of Marcos Llorente. A tougher test lies in wait in the last-16, mind: either Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal or Luka Modric’s Croatia in Dallas on Monday.
Records continue to tumble for Luis de la Fuente’s unrelenting outfit. They’ve now levelled the 35-game unbeaten run of the 2007-2009 golden generation and are now just two games away from the all-time international record, set by Roberto Mancini’s Italy team who won Euro 2020. For keeper Unai Simón, No 1 over ******* nal’s David Raya, a fifth consecutive World Cup clean sheet, tying Italy in 1990 and Switzerland between 2006 and 2010. And it’s the first time they’ve scored more than one goal in a knockout game since 1994, would you believe? The omens for the Spanish are tantalisingly promising.
All that was missing, in essence, was a Lamine Yamal goal. The irresistible winger, not 19 years of age for another 11 days, came close on several occasions but, unlike Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Messi and Kane out in front, a fight for the golden boot looks beyond him. Still, he looked terrific in spurts here; unequivocally the most potent attacking threat for his country.
For Spain, this was a first-ever game in California, nd they could well be back in eight days, with a potential quarter-final against the USA or Belgium. Here, they were met with stiflingly dense conditions, adding to the humidity in this greenhouse-spaceship of an arena. And from De la Fuente’s team selection, a record-breaking faith in youth: in selecting Barcelona duo Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, the pair were the first teenagers to start a World Cup knockout match for 68 years, since a certain Pele and Jose Altafini for Brazil in 1958. That side, of course, won the tournament.
27 days ago
