Spain overwhelms Saudi Arabia 4‑0: Yamal and a brace from Oyarzabal

Spain wins 4-0 against Saudi Arabia and cancels the disappointing debut draw against Cape Verde. The first high note of the decisive factor Lamine Yamal and the brace of Oyarzabalwith the Red Furies now in first position in group H, at 4. The Saudis’ race is becoming more complicated: in the next round there will be the match against Cape Verde, on 27 June, at the same time as Uruguay-Spain. At midnight Celeste will instead look for victory to catch up with their next rivals.

De la Fuente wanted to risk Yamal despite muscle problems: the The Iberian coach has decided to deploy a rather offensive 4-3-3. Saudi Arabia chose a 5-4-1, a tight formation which however was unable to limit the Spanish phenomenon: the number 19 scored his first goal at the World Cup after just ten minutes, resulting in a sliding finish from a ball cut to the far post.

The end of the first half: Real Sociedad’s deadly one-two

The goal scored gave Spain confidence, in the 17th minute Oyarzabal attempted to double the lead, but Alowais intercepted the shot. Four minutes later the Real Sociedad striker, following a corner kick and a melee in the area, managed to double the lead with a quick deflection into the six yard area. Within three minutes the 3-0 also arrived, again with Oyarzabal himself: assist from Cucurella, header from Dani Olmo and finishing from the Basque center forward. The third goal definitively complicated the match for the national team led by Donis and in the 36th minute Oyarzabal again came close to scoring a hat-trick by hitting the crossbar after an error by the Saudi defence.

The second half: own goal and management of the Furie Rosse

The second half started along the lines of the first half, Cucurella shot on goal after just four minutes causing Altambakti’s own goal. De La Fuente’s men kept the pace high: in the 20th minute Ferran Torres, following Merino’s suggestion, was unable to find the fifth goal. Spain managed in the final, the Barcelona striker scored the poker-like goal after an assist from Pedro Porro, but the goal was disallowed by VAR due to an irregular position.