Mikel Oyarzabal’s brace permits the European champions to dominate Austria and transfer on to the spherical of 16.
Revealed On 2 Jul 2026
Spain coasted previous Austria and into the FIFA World Cup final 16 on Thursday, completely outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win, with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.
The European champions managed possession and sliced by the Austrian defence in a usually dominant efficiency in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.
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The win, which may have been by a better margin – with a disallowed objective and a free kick off the woodwork – units up a tantalising round-of-16 conflict with both Portugal or Croatia.
“I’m glad to assist the crew and get by to the subsequent spherical. Now we have to relaxation,” mentioned Oyarzabal immediately after full-time.
“They have been a bodily aspect and troublesome to play in opposition to, however we performed match. We’re glad to qualify,” he added.
As as to whether he would like Portugal or Croatia in Monday’s last-16 match-up, Oyarzabal remarked: “It doesn’t matter who we face within the subsequent spherical; I’ve mates in each groups.”
Oyarzabal units the tone
Los Angeles Stadium was a sea of pink and pleasure over the primary go to by a bona fide World Cup favorite to the US’s second metropolis.
Spain ratcheted up the stress regularly by the primary half, making a string of probabilities after the primary hydration break.
Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal nook, however Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.
Alexander Schlager then made an outstanding diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot across the publish.
Austria’s defence lastly buckled within the thirty sixth minute. Pedri pinged a ball extensive, left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed previous the goalkeeper.
Spain’s dominance grew additional, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, primarily from the appropriate flank.
An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was effectively saved.
Austria spurned a uncommon probability on the different finish. Romano Schmid performed in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, however a horrible first contact meant he misplaced the ball earlier than even making an attempt a shot.
‘Ole’
After the break, Spain continued knocking on the door with out fairly placing the sport to relaxation.
Austria despatched on two large strikers, Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic, and instantly went lengthy, with Kalajdzic placing a header over the bar.
However within the 66th minute, Spain struck once more. Baena lifted a cross onto the top of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first objective for Spain.
Some dogged defending saved the scoreline respectable, together with a goal-line clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to relaxation moments later.
Spain sprayed passes across the pitch as the ultimate minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the gang, as consideration turned to a sterner take a look at on Monday in Dallas.
Within the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross discovered a very unmarked Oyarzabal within the penalty space, who slotted the ball dwelling to seal the victory in model.
