Spain answered their critics in emphatic fashion as Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal powered Luis de la Fuente’s side to a commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. After a shock stalemate against Cape Verde in their opening match, La Roja rediscovered their rhythm, intensity and swagger to move top of Group H.
The pressure on Spain before kick-off was immense. Their goalless draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde had raised uncomfortable questions about a team many tipped as contenders for the crown. What followed in Atlanta was the perfect response.
At the centre of it all stood Yamal. The 18-year-old made his first World Cup start and needed only 10 minutes to announce himself on football’s biggest stage. Arriving at the back post, he turned home Oyarzabal’s inviting cross to score his first World Cup goal and send the stadium into celebration.
“Being able to score here with my mum and my family in the stands is a dream come true,” Yamal said after the match.
The teenager’s impact extended beyond the goal. Every touch lifted the crowd. Thousands of supporters wearing his name filled the stands, and each burst of acceleration reminded everyone why he is already regarded as one of the game’s brightest stars.
While Yamal dazzled, Oyarzabal delivered redemption. Criticised after his anonymous display against Cape Verde, the Real Sociedad forward responded with a masterclass. He scored twice in three minutes and provided the assist for Yamal’s opener, becoming only the second player since 1966 to be directly involved in three goals within the opening 25 minutes of a World Cup match.
Spain’s aggressive approach was clear from the first whistle. They pressed higher, moved the ball quicker and attacked with purpose. “We needed more verticality and more intensity,” De la Fuente explained. “From the very first minute we were suffocating the opponent and pinning them back into their own box.”
The match was effectively over before half-time, allowing Spain to manage the minutes of both Yamal and Oyarzabal. Four days after celebrating his 65th birthday, De la Fuente made the smart call to withdraw both players at the break with tougher tests still ahead.
Saudi Arabia struggled to contain Spain’s movement and technical quality. An unfortunate own goal from Hassan Al Tambakti after the restart completed the scoring, while a late Ferran Torres effort was ruled out by VAR.
“The first game wasn’t really us,” Yamal admitted. “Now we’ve arrived and we’re going for more.”
If Spain needed a statement performance, this was it. More importantly, it felt like the moment a young superstar truly arrived on the World Cup stage.
