Spain roared back to life in the World Cup with a thoroughly impressive 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia, storming to the top of Group H in the process.
After a disappointing goalless draw against debutants Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s men looked like their old brilliant selves again.
From the first whistle, they were sharp, confident, and full of attacking intent, and it didn’t take long for the goals to flow.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal stole the show early. Just 10 minutes in, the 17-year-old pounced on Mikel Oyarzabal’s inviting low cross and calmly tapped the ball home at the back post. It was the perfect way for Yamal to announce himself on the World Cup stage.
Spain kept pushing, and Oyarzabal soon took over. After Saudi Arabia failed to clear a corner, Dani Olmo’s shot was flicked on by Aymeric Laporte, and Oyarzabal reacted quickest, taking a touch before slotting it neatly into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, he made it 3-0 with a lovely cushioned volley from close range. The Real Sociedad man was inches away from a first-half hat-trick when his cheeky outside-of-the-foot effort clipped the crossbar.
With the game already won by half-time, De la Fuente took off both Oyarzabal and Yamal to give them a well-earned rest. But Spain wasn’t done.
Four minutes after the restart, Marc Cucurella’s shot was saved, only for the ball to rebound off the unlucky Hassan Al Tambakti and trickle into the net for 4-0.
La Roja continued to dominate. Pedro Porro’s fierce drive and a Ferran Torres header were both kept out by a busy Mohammed Al Owais, while Torres had another effort ruled out for offside in stoppage time.
A professional, ruthless performance that will send a warning to the rest of Group H. Yamal’s magic and Oyarzabal’s clinical finishing were the highlights of a very enjoyable evening for Spanish fans.
