European champions Spain continued their pursuit of global glory on Thursday, as they eased through a World Cup test against Austria in the round of 32.
Mikel Oyarzabal was on the scoresheet twice for the European champions in a 3-0 win, tucking away two tidy strikes either side of a Pedro Porro header, and guiding Spain into the last 16. There, Portugal or Croatia will await.
These goals followed a controversial moment in which Marc Cucurella had a goal ruled out due to an alleged foul on Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. But that meant little in the end, as Luis de la Fuente’s side progressed at the expense of Ralf Rangnick’s in Los Angeles.
In doing so, Spain secured their first knockout win at the World Cup since 2010, when they lifted the trophy for the only time in their nation’s history.
Follow all of the latest from the round of 32 clash with our live blog below:
Yamal magic
Yamal became the third youngest player of the match award winner in World Cup history after his performance against Austria.
Oyarzabal hails ‘very good day’
“I’m happy to help the team and to get through another round. [It was] a difficult game. We knew it’d be difficult as they’re a very physical team. But we’ve had a very good day,” Mikel Oyarzabal says after scoring another two goals.
Alaba: Hydration break hurt us
“For the first 20-25 minutes we were OK but after the first break, I think they [Spain] changed a bit and then it became more difficult for us,” the Austria captain told DAZN. “They are very strong with the ball. They have a lot of the ball and after 90 minutes it’s difficult to [just] run after the ball. They have players who have a lot of quality and are very dangerous.”
‘These players want more’
Luis de la Fuente, speaking to RTVE, says that his team are stepping up when it matters.
“The big teams turn up when their presence is needed,” he said. “I think today we’ve seen a great game. I’m happy because in all aspects we’ve been almost perfect – but we have to keep improving. Every match now is going to be very difficult. In the last 16, the opponents are now even more demanding … You can always improve and on top of that, it’s what this team demands. These players always want more and more. [Oyarzabal] showed the footballing potential he has – and the rest of his team-mates exactly the same. They played an extraordinary match.”
Up next
Now Spain wait to see who they will face on Monday in Dallas.
It will be Portugal or Croatia, who are about to meet in Toronto with kick-off at midnight BST.
You can follow all the action below:
Simon’s stats continued
Spain didn’t allow a shot on target versus Austria, which Opta says is the first time a team haven’t allowed one in a knockout match since Germany in the 2014 final.
Are you watching, France? Spain are peaking at just the right time
While all the big-hitters around them experience a glut of goals and drama, depending on which way you glance, Spain continue their methodical and altogether stress-free path to the latter stages of the World Cup. Sure, they are lacking France’s all-out firepower. Sure, they are lacking a leading talisman in Argentina’s Lionel Messi or England’s Harry Kane. But as a cohesive unit, ticking over possession and grounding their opposition into submission, there is still no collective well-rounded team better at this World Cup 2026 than La Roja.
Long wait ended
According to Miguel Delaney that is the first goal scored by a Spain player in a knockout tie since Andres Iniesta in the 2010 final. There was an own goal against Russia in 2018. It was also the first time they have scored more than once in a knockout match since 1994.
