ATLANTA — Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Group H on Sunday, with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal producing a game-changing start after a rocky World Cup opener, according to the report. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente cautioned against comparing Yamal to Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona but called the Barcelona winger “a genius,” likening his talent to artists such as Salvador Dali and Michelangelo.
De la Fuente made four changes to the starting XI in Atlanta, bringing in Yamal, right back Pedro Porro and attackers Dani Olmo and Álex Baena. Ferran Torres, Marcos Llorente, Fabián Ruiz and Gavi were left out. The coach also tweaked the midfield by benching Ruiz so Pedri could drop deeper alongside Rodri in a double pivot — the position Pedri occupies for Barcelona.
Spain began at a relentless pace, moving the ball more quickly than they had in the 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. In the opening 25 minutes they dominated, and the statistics reflected that control: 66.6% possession, four big chances and an xG (expected goals) of 2.85. The first-half display was described in the report as an exhibition that “puts [Spain] right back where they belong: among the favorites to win this tournament.”
Yamal was involved from the first seconds, taking his first touch 30 seconds into the match and crossing into the six-yard box. He continued to probe down the right, sending another cross on three minutes and firing a long-range shot over the bar. On 10 minutes Mikel Oyarzabal’s weighted cross found Yamal, who slid in at the far post to make it 1-0. The goal, his first at a World Cup, came when Yamal was 18 years and 343 days old.
De la Fuente said before the match that Yamal’s enthusiasm had to be held back because of his desire to make an impression: “Lamine is at the point where you have to restrain him,” the coach said, adding “He loves playing football.” Thousands of fans in Atlanta attended wearing shirts with Yamal’s name, underscoring the winger’s profile in Spain’s squad.
