Spain delivered a resounding statement to their World Cup rivals by thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring a brace and Lamine Yamal netting his first World Cup goal. The emphatic victory came after a shock 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their Group H opener, silencing any doubts about the European champions' credentials.
Luis de la Fuente made four changes to his starting XI, bringing in Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, and Yamal for Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, and Ferran Torres. The adjustments paid off immediately, as Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a simple tap-in at the back post after a smart run.
Oyarzabal's Quickfire Double
Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal for Spain in the Euro 2024 final against England, doubled the lead in the 24th minute with a clinical finish from close range. Just three minutes later, he struck again, ghosting behind the Saudi defence to make it 3-0. The Real Sociedad forward also provided an assist, capping a dominant first-half display.
Oyarzabal was denied a hat-trick when De la Fuente substituted him and Yamal at halftime, likely with an eye on Saturday's group-stage finale against Uruguay. Yamal's fitness remains a concern after a hamstring injury late in Barcelona's season, but Spain's depth in attack allowed the manager to rest key players.
Second-Half Dominance
Spain continued to press after the break, and within four minutes of the restart, they made it 4-0. Marc Cucurella's shot was saved by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, but the ball rebounded off defender Hassan Al-Tambakti and into the net. The substitutes, including Mikel Merino and Ferran Torres, maintained the pressure, with Torres having a goal ruled out for offside by VAR in stoppage time.
Saudi Arabia, despite the heavy defeat, remain in contention for a knockout-stage spot. A win over Cape Verde in their final group match would almost certainly send them through to the last 32 for only the second time in their history, having reached the round of 16 on debut in 1998.
What's Next?
Spain will face Uruguay on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia take on Cape Verde. Both matches will determine the final standings in Group H, with Spain looking to secure top spot after this emphatic performance.
