World Cup 2026: Spain left Saudi Arabia with no way back
Five days after being held by Cape Verde, Spain needed a response. They got one, and they barely broke a sweat. Against a Saudi side quickly overrun, La Roja ran out 4-0 winners on Sunday in Atlanta in a one-sided contest.
The return of several regulars, plus Lamine Yamal’s first start, changed the look of the team. More tempo, more movement and a sharper edge in front of goal: Luis de la Fuente’s men were in control almost from the off.
Lamine Yamal set the tone from the opening minutes
The young Barcelona winger did not hang around before making his mark. Bright on his first touch, he kept driving at the defence and taking people on. His work was rewarded after 10 minutes when he arrived at the back post to turn in a perfectly weighted cross from Mikel Oyarzabal. Already credited with the assist for the opener, the Real Sociedad forward then took over.
Taking advantage of the gaps in the Saudi defence, he scored twice in a matter of minutes and put Spain well clear before the half-hour mark. Saudi Arabia tried to press high, but all they really did was open up space, and Spain kept walking through it with ease. By the break, the result was already just about settled.
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La Roja then cruised through the rest of the game
Luis de la Fuente did not hesitate to protect some of his key men either. Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal were both withdrawn at the interval, but the pattern barely changed. A few minutes after the restart, Hassan Al Tambakti turned the ball into his own net to make it 4-0. Spain then took their foot off the gas and were never troubled.
Ferran Torres could have joined the party, but the Spain forward passed up several chances and also had a goal ruled out in stoppage time. A footnote in a night Spain controlled from start to finish, and one that got them back on track after the flat start against Cape Verde.
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Credit photo : Justin Setterfield / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA via AFP
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