Spain finally arrived at their World Cup. A week after a stunning goalless draw with minnows Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente's side responded in the most emphatic way possible — thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 at Atlanta Stadium, inspired by a Lamine Yamal masterclass that included his first-ever World Cup goal. Mikel Oyarzabal added two more either side of it, and Spain remind the rest of the tournament exactly why they arrived as favourites.
THE GOALS
Yamal, fit to start for the first time at this World Cup after his recovery from a hamstring injury, set the tone almost immediately. In the 10th minute, Oyarzabal drove down the left off a Saudi turnover and clipped a low cross through the six-yard box. Yamal arrived at the back post and slid the ball over the line from close range — his first World Cup goal in his first World Cup start, and only his second international goal in 27 appearances for Spain. It made him only the second player aged 18 or younger ever to open the scoring at a World Cup, after a 17-year-old Pele against Wales in 1958.
Spain were relentless. Oyarzabal, heavily criticised after his quiet display against Cape Verde, doubled the lead in the 21st minute, finishing from close range after Aymeric Laporte kept an attack alive. He completed his brace just three minutes later, volleying home his second of the match in the 24th minute. Spain had scored three goals inside 25 minutes — the first nation to do that at a World Cup since Germany in 2014. Oyarzabal nearly had a hat-trick before the break, striking the crossbar. Saudi Arabia, who had earned a respectable point against Uruguay in their opener, were overwhelmed.
The rout was completed early in the second half. Marc Cucurella's volley was saved by Mohammed Al-Owais, but the rebound cannoned in off Hassan Altambakti for an unfortunate own goal in the 49th minute. Ferran Torres thought he had added a fifth late on but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside following a VAR review. Final score: 4-0.
THE YAMAL EFFECT
This was Yamal's moment, even beyond the scoresheet. When his goal went in, Spain had already completed 39 passes — no team at the tournament had managed that many before scoring. His dribbling, crossing and movement set the tone from the first whistle, and De la Fuente withdrew both him and Oyarzabal at half-time with the job effectively done, managing his recovery carefully. Sky Sports described his finish as "a back-post poacher" rather than one of his typical "beautiful works of art" — evidence, in their words, of a more complete forward emerging. Yamal had entered the Cape Verde game as a substitute in the 71st minute and immediately changed the game; De la Fuente had said afterwards: "As soon as Lamine came on, he changed how they were playing." This time, given a full impact from kick-off, the result followed.
LINEUPS
Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri; Baena, Yamal, Olmo; Oyarzabal. Subs: Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino (HT), Pedro Porro and Fabian Ruiz also involved in rotation.
Saudi Arabia: Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Lajami, Al Amri; Al Harbi, Nasser Al Dawsari, Al Khaibari, Al Juwayr; Al Buraikan, Salem Al Dawsari. Subs: Kanno, Al-Hamdan (booked 59').
THE NUMBERS
Spain: 2.85 xG. Saudi Arabia: 0.04 xG. Spain produced 27 shots and 2.29 xG against Cape Verde without scoring a single goal — this time their finishing matched their dominance.
WHAT IT MEANS
Spain top Group H and head into their final group game against Uruguay with their confidence fully restored. Saudi Arabia, who drew with Uruguay in their opener, must beat or match Cape Verde in their final game to keep realistic hopes of progressing alive. For Yamal, a first World Cup goal at 18 — with the promise of plenty more to come.