Remember when Spain looked mortal against Cabo Verde? That feels like ancient history now.
The Group H winners rolled past Austria 3-0 on Thursday in the Round of 32, and it wasn’t even that close. Spain dominated possession at 64 percent and put 10 shots on goal to Austria’s zero. Zero. That’s not a typo.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice — once in the 36th minute and again in the 89th — and Pedro Porro added a header in between. The 29-year-old forward has become the focal point of an attack that looked disjointed just a couple weeks ago.
Lamine Yamal also turned heads. The teenage winger played with composure you don’t normally see from someone his age on a stage this big. He didn’t score, but his movement created space and kept Austria’s defense off balance all afternoon.
How Spain Turned It Around
The opening draw against Cabo Verde on June 15 had people wondering if Spain was legit. France, Argentina and Brazil wouldn’t have stumbled like that, skeptics argued. But Spain has responded by winning their group and now posting a statement win in the knockout round.
The defense hasn’t conceded a goal yet in this tournament. That’s four matches without a single ball hitting the back of their net. Whatever questions existed about the back line have been answered emphatically.
Thursday’s match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles drew a lively crowd that watched Spain dictate the pace from start to finish. Austria never really threatened. They couldn’t hold the ball long enough to build anything.
Spain now waits on the winner of Portugal and Croatia. That match should tell us a lot about how far this team can go.
Looking Ahead to the Round of 16
The next game is Monday, July 6. Spain is chasing a second World Cup title, and the early skepticism has faded. The rhythm is there now. The passing looks sharp. The finishing is coming together.
There’s not much doubt surrounding this squad anymore. They’ve earned that much.
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