By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 22, 2026 03:33 AM • 26 views
ATLANTA — The rhythm has returned to the Spanish national team. Six days after a toothless scoreless draw with Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s men unlocked their true potential at Atlanta Stadium on Sunday night. Led by the electrifying brilliance of Lamine Yamal and a clinical, reputation-restoring brace from Mikel Oyarzabal, La Roja cruised to a commanding 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The result firmly ignited their Group H campaign.
On the night of his 65th birthday, De la Fuente received the ultimate gift from his squad: a tactical masterclass defined by the precise, vertical thrust that had been missing from their opener. Spain dominated possession from the outset, stifling the Green Falcons and demonstrating the ruthless efficiency expected of Europe. Reflecting on the shift from their first game, a vindicated De la Fuente noted in the post-match press conference, "Every match is different, even if the game plan is similar. We analysed the previous match and agreed we needed more verticality to play deeper. We saw this tonight, and from minute one, we were trying to suffocate the opponent." The opponent."
The Yamal Spark
The catalyst for this transformation was the inclusion of Yamal. After only a brief cameo against Cape Verde and a two-month competitive hiatus, the teenage prodigy was unleashed from the start. The Atlanta crowd erupted at his first involvement. He dazzled with step-overs, left his marker chasing shadows, and delivered a dangerous cross cleared by Abdulelah Alamri.
Spain’s early dominance paid off after just 10 minutes. The breakthrough was a masterclass in spatial awareness, orchestrated by Oyarzabal. The Real Sociedad forward sent a perfectly weighted ball across the penalty area. Yamal arrived at the back post and slid in for his first-ever World Cup goal.
Oyarzabal Silences the Critics
If the opener brought relief, the avalanche of goals that followed brought vindication, especially for Oyarzabal. He had faced intense scrutiny after failing to touch the ball during his 30-minute appearance on Monday. Tonight, he proved why he remains Spain’s leading marksman—the same player who netted six times in six qualifiers.
Spain settled into their passing groove and carved open the Saudi backline. The second goal arrived in the 28th minute via a set-piece routine. Dani Olmo swung a corner into the danger zone. After the defence failed to clear, Aymeric Laporte nodded the ball down to Oyarzabal, who bundled it home.
Three minutes later, Spain produced a goal of technical artistry. The ball never touched the turf until it hit the net. Pedro Porro floated a delicate pass into the area. Marc Cucurella hooked it back to Olmo, who cushioned a header into the six-yard box. Oyarzabal ghosted in and smashed a clinical volley past the helpless goalkeeper.
Cruising into the Knockouts
With the points secured by halftime, De la Fuente could rest his primary threats. He withdrew both Yamal and Oyarzabal for the second half. Despite the changes, Spain’s relentless pressure did not let up. Minutes after the restart, Spain added a fourth goal. Cucurella’s thunderous volley after a corner was blocked by the Saudi shot-stopper. The rebound ricocheted off defender Hassan Altambakti and trickled in for an own goal. From then on, the European champions managed their energy and coasted through the final minutes. Even Cape Verde’s 40-year-old cult-hero keeper, Vozinha, would have struggled against a Spanish outfit at their peak. The result lifts Spain to four points at the top of Group H. Saudi Arabia remains with just one after two matches. Attention now turns to the later match in Miami between Cape Verde and Uruguay, which will further shape the group.
