“Spain responds to criticism with a thrashing of Saudi Arabia in the World Cup.”

Four unanswered goals and an impressive recovery of pride and ambition: Spain delivered a resounding response to criticism on Sunday, crushing Saudi Arabia 4-0 and revitalizing their campaign in the 2026 World Cup. After a lackluster debut, with a uninspired draw against Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s team took to the field with their sights set on rehabilitation and left no doubt about their intentions to go far in the tournament.

The match, held on North American soil, marked Spain’s first victory in the group stage of the World Cup, with particular highlights from Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored two goals and provided an assist in just 24 minutes, and the young prodigy Lamine Yamal, who netted the first goal of the match. The performance was dominant from the initial whistle, with Spain controlling every moment of the game and showcasing an overwhelming tactical and technical superiority against a Saudi Arabia side unable to counter the Spanish offensive onslaught.

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This result assumes particular importance, not only because it restores confidence to a team that was coming off a frustrating draw, but also because it reignites the hopes of Spanish fans for a victorious campaign. The rout places Spain in a much more comfortable position to tackle the upcoming group matches and silences, at least temporarily, the critics who questioned the quality and ambition of the national team following the initial setback. For De la Fuente, this victory serves as a response and affirmation against the doubts that loomed over the locker room.

At the end of the match, the Spanish coach did not hide his relief and pride in his players’ performance. “This team has an exceptional margin for development. We are happy to regain our rhythm and correct aspects of our game that did not work the other day [0-0 with Cape Verde]. This is due to the attitude and ambition of this team. The players’ pride had been hurt. The comments they received motivated them to react. We had a great first half. The second was different, but we put in a very positive display, which gives us calm and confidence,” said De la Fuente, also highlighting Oyarzabal’s influence: “Those who understand football greatly appreciate [Mikel Oyarzabal]. His impact on the national team is enormous. Probably, there is no other player in the world with such influence on a national team. Today, he scored 2 goals and provided an assist in 24 minutes. I defend Mikel – and I would love for people in Spain to do the same – because he can go down in history with the national team.”

The management of Lamine Yamal was another topic addressed by the coach, who explained: “The substitution was planned at halftime. His contribution was exactly what we needed so that we could count on him for the next match. He returned in perfect condition, just like Nico Williams. The next one who needs to recover is Víctor Muñoz.” The concern for the physical balance of the squad reflects the meticulous preparation for the demanding competition schedule.

On the side of the protagonists on the field, Mikel Oyarzabal emphasized the importance of the collective and dismissed any need to prove his individual worth: “The other day [0-0 against Cape Verde], I didn’t touch the ball much nor did I have such an active participation. I’m happy. I always think about the success of the team. I didn’t need to prove anything. I feel appreciated and valued by my teammates and the coach. That’s the most important thing. There will always be comments from outside about our performance, but we remain calm,” highlighted the Real Sociedad forward, showing maturity and focus on the goals of the national team.

In contrast, Saudi Arabia left the pitch resigned, with coach Georgios Donis acknowledging his team’s weaknesses against an opponent of a different caliber. “We faced one of the best national teams in the world. We decided to play with a five-man defense, in a low block, and try to be as secure as possible. We didn’t defend well. We weren’t solid enough to contain Spain near our area. We made many mistakes,” lamented the Greek coach, adding: “When we adopt a low block, we need to be very solid. That was our main problem. We had already seen these difficulties with Uruguay in the second half.”

For Spain, this victory serves as both a tonic and a warning to the competition: La Roja is alive, motivated, and with restored pride. The next match will be crucial to consolidate the recovery and secure passage to the next phase. The squad is showing clear signs of evolution and ambition, and confidence is returning to the locker room. Behind the scenes, expectations are growing regarding Oyarzabal’s performance and the impact that young talents, such as Yamal, could have on the progression of the World Cup. For Saudi Arabia, the focus now is on correcting mistakes, recovering mentally, and preparing for the next challenge, aware of the weaknesses exposed against one of the tournament’s most powerful teams.

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