The group stage may be a necessary hurdle, but for Lamine Yamal and his teammates, the World Cup truly begins here. On a bright afternoon in the Pacific, Spain not only triumphed over Austria to secure a spot in the last 16 against either Portugal or Croatia, but they also showcased their traditional style of play. Mikel Oyarzabal netted two goals, complemented by a strike from Pedro Porro, leading to a convincing 3-0 victory that marked their first knockout stage win since clinching the title in 2010. “Big teams turn up when they’re needed,” remarked Luis de la Fuente post-match.
Spain’s defense remained resolute, achieving a fourth consecutive clean sheet, with Unai Simón surpassing Iker Casillas’s record from the 2010 tournament. Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte have emerged as the standout center-back pair of the tournament, but what truly shone was the dynamic play occurring around them.
The full-backs, Marc Cucurella and Porro, were instrumental. Spain’s performance, previously lackluster, transformed as they dominated possession with 64% and registered 10 shots on target out of 23 attempts overall. De la Fuente noted, “We were in it until the 2-0, but our opponents are special and it’s hard over 90 minutes,” reflecting the renewed vigor of the Spanish side.
Spain’s intensity, incisiveness, and dominance were evident, culminating in a third goal that echoed their signature style in the 89th minute. “We were in it until the 2-0, but our opponents are special and it’s hard over 90 minutes,” commented Ralf Rangnick, head coach of Austria.
The match began with immediate action, showcasing a contest between Konrad Laimer and Lamine Yamal. Austria initiated the attack, but Spain quickly responded, with Yamal’s shot within the first minute signaling their intent. De la Fuente had anticipated Austria’s high pressing style and confirmed that it suited his team’s strengths, allowing Spain to exploit space effectively. Early chances arose, mostly favoring Spain, with Dani Olmo narrowly missing a volley, while a promising opportunity for Laimer was thwarted by a well-placed cross from Marcel Sabitzer.
After a brief commercial break, which drew boos from the crowd, Spain intensified their efforts. A corner kick saw Cucurella strike, but the goal was disallowed due to an infringement involving Cubarsí. Despite the setback, Spain continued to press forward. Lamine Yamal created a spectacular chance, leading to a save from Austria’s keeper Alex Schlager, followed by Oyarzabal’s low shot also kept out. Finally, in the 36th minute, Pedri’s assist set up Cucurella, who delivered a low cross, allowing Oyarzabal to finish with ease.
After halftime, Spain resumed their dominance while Austria’s focus shifted to defense, yet they had a fleeting chance to equalize. A splendid pass from Sabitzer found Sasa Kalajdzic, who, despite being on the pitch for just a minute, missed a close-range header that could have altered the match’s course.
Spain quickly regained their momentum. An initial attack broke down when Olmo’s shot was blocked but was soon revived as Baena set up Porro, who thundered in a header. With the contest effectively settled, Oyarzabal capped off a fluid team move that epitomized Spain’s style. Starting from Simón, the ball was expertly passed through the team, culminating in Oyarzabal’s goal, marking the true beginning of their World Cup journey.
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