On his 65th birthday, Luis de la Fuente received the ideal gift from his team as Spain delivered a stunning performance in Atlanta, erasing doubts from their previous match. After struggling to score against Cape Verde for 97 minutes, they netted three goals against Saudi Arabia before the first hydration break. “Life is there to be enjoyed,” Lamine Yamal had remarked, and Spain certainly embraced that philosophy.
The young forward opened the scoring just ten minutes into his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury in April, with Mikel Oyarzabal contributing two more goals within the opening 24 minutes. By halftime, Spain had established a commanding lead of 4-0, allowing the coach to substitute players like Mikel Merino and Nico Williams as a reward for their efforts. De la Fuente expressed his desire for Spain to return to their best form, and they achieved that here.
In a tactical shift, De la Fuente made four changes to the starting lineup, opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation, a departure from the 4-3-3 system that resulted in a goalless draw against Cape Verde. Pedro Porro, Álex Baena, and Dani Olmo all made significant contributions, but it was Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old who the coach compared to artistic icons Salvador Dali and Michelangelo, who truly dazzled. Yamal started this match with intentions to leave a mark, completing 45 minutes before being substituted for future matches.
Spain was already in control by halftime, having scored three goals within the first 24 minutes. The opening goal stemmed from Lamine Yamal’s initial play, where just 41 seconds into the match, he executed a perfect Cruyff turn to evade Salem Al-Dawsari, who stumbled in the process. This set the tone for his impactful performance, as he became more involved with each touch, leading to his goal within the first ten minutes.
“Life is to be enjoyed,” Lamine Yamal remarked, and his enthusiasm resonated throughout the team.
Yamal was not isolated in his brilliance; Spain dominated the left flank, which culminated in the opening goal. Baena’s precise outside-of-the-foot pass found Oyarzabal, who crossed the ball across the six-yard box, allowing Yamal to arrive at the far post and score. Celebrating by sliding on his knees before resting his head on the ground in prayer, Yamal’s achievement marked him as one of the youngest players to score a World Cup opener, following in the footsteps of Pelé.
Oyarzabal’s contributions were significant, having not touched the ball during the first half-hour against Cape Verde, yet he managed to secure both an assist and two goals within this match.
The first of Oyarzabal’s two goals came after a botched corner by Saudi Arabia, where Aymeric Laporte rose to the occasion, nodding the ball down for Oyarzabal to finish with ease. His second goal followed shortly thereafter, showcasing Spain’s attacking intent, with the full-backs pushing high up the pitch. Pedro Porro’s curling cross found Marc Cucurella at the far post, who redirected it for Oyarzabal to score with a header. This seamless exchange of touches demonstrated Spain’s attacking fluidity and left the World Cup favorites in a position of strength.
Oyarzabal nearly netted a third goal with a spectacular shot that hit the crossbar, with goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais out of position. He also showcased his prowess with a volley just before halftime. Despite being substituted at the break, Oyarzabal had already made a significant impact, bringing his tally to 14 goals and seven assists in his last 13 appearances for Spain.
Spain registered a remarkable seventeen shots, displaying a lack of urgency despite the previous match’s disappointment. De la Fuente admitted they felt “stung” by past criticisms, which fueled their determination to perform. With Pedri orchestrating the midfield, Olmo exploiting gaps, and Rodri maintaining control, Spain dominated possession, which exceeded 70%. Laporte articulated their message: “We want to say ‘here we are,’” and they certainly made their presence felt.
The sight of Lamine Yamal sprinting back sixty yards to thwart a rare Saudi Arabia counterattack, led by Al-Dawsari, just before halftime underscored his commitment. Although fatigue set in, this was not the last we would see of him in the tournament, and his performance today was crucial. Spain continued to press, and after another poorly defended corner, Cucurella volleyed home the fourth goal, which was later credited as an own goal by Hassan Al-Tambakti.
As the game approached its conclusion, De la Fuente made additional substitutions, bringing on Merino and Williams to rest Yamal and Oyarzabal. A brilliant pass from Williams nearly set up Yéremy Pino for a fifth goal just nine minutes before the end, and Ferran Torres found the net in stoppage time, only for VAR to disallow the goal. Ultimately, De la Fuente could not have asked for a better celebration on his birthday, with everything he desired already accomplished.
