INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Spain returned to knockout-stage winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Austria in the FIFA World Cup round of 32, advancing to the tournament’s round of 16, according to the report. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and Pedro Porro added a goal as Spain ended a run of three tournaments without a knockout win.
The result ended a frustrating stretch for the reigning European champions. Since their 2010 World Cup triumph, Spain had produced three subsequent World Cups with zero knockout wins: a group-stage exit in 2014, a round-of-16 loss to hosts Russia in 2018 and a penalty-shootout defeat to Morocco in 2022, according to the report.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the 36th minute; that goal was the first World Cup knockout-stage strike by a Spanish player since Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner in the 2010 final, according to the report. The winger’s recent form for Spain is notable: he has 17 goals and six assists in his last 17 appearances, and at this World Cup Spain have scored eight goals with Oyarzabal directly involved in five (four goals and an assist). Only six players — David Villa, Raúl González, Fernando Torres, Álvaro Morata, David Silva and Fernando Hierro — have scored more for the Spanish men’s national team, according to the report.
Lamine Yamal drew attention before and during the match, with television cameras lingering on him as teams walked out and later naming him the game’s MVP, according to the report. Spain had looked subdued through the group stage at times, hampered by injuries and occasionally disrupted by opponents’ tactics, though there were moments of quality such as the four-goal outing against Saudi Arabia.
Austria began the match brightly under coach Ralf Rangnick’s high-press approach, which at times played into Spain’s plans, according to the report. Early chances included a second-minute shot from Yamal and a disallowed goal by Marc Cucurella after officials ruled Pau Cubarsí fouled Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. “We were in the game as long as it was 1-0,” Rangnick said afterward, according to the report.
