Lamine Yamal confidently declared before the match that "when we reach our best form, Spain will be almost unbeatable".
The 3-0 victory over Austria in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup cannot confirm that La Roja is an invincible team, but this performance shows that the reigning European champion has regained its most fearsome image. It is also a warning sent to all remaining opponents at the tournament.
In the 3 group stage matches, Spain played unstably when affected by injuries and the physically strong playing style of their opponents. Although they once exploded with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia thanks to Yamal's impressive performance, in general, coach Luis de la Fuente's team has not created a convincing feeling.
However, everything changed in the knockout round. The reigning European champions got what they needed most: a convincing victory to affirm quality and remind the rest of the World Cup of their true strength.
Yamal once shared that Spain always has to bear greater pressure than other teams: "We are the only team always required to play really well. For other teams, just winning is enough".
Many major football nations like Brazil may not agree with that view, but considering the World Cup journey of more than a decade, the victory over Austria is of special significance to La Roja.
Since winning the championship in 2010, Spain has never won a knockout match at the World Cup. They were eliminated right from the group stage in 2014, stopped by host Russia in the round of 16 in 2018 and continued to be eliminated by Morocco in a penalty shootout at the 2022 World Cup.
The victory over Austria therefore ended the long waiting period. 2 goals by Mikel Oyarzabal and a goal by Pedro Porro helped Spain for the first time in many years to overcome the knockout stage at the World Cup.
Oyarzabal's opening goal in the 36th minute, after a beautiful combination between Pedri and Marc Cucurella, also has historical significance. This is the first goal of a Spanish player in the World Cup knockout round since Andres Iniesta's goal in the 2010 final against the Netherlands.
Yamal is still the name that attracts the most attention. Cameras continuously focused on Barcelona's young talent before kick-off and he closed the match with the title of Best Player.
However, Oyarzabal is the factor that makes the difference. The Real Sociedad striker has scored 17 goals and had six assists in the last 17 matches for the Spanish national team. At the 2026 World Cup alone, he contributed to 5 of the team's 8 goals with four goals and one assist.
Only 6 players in the history of the Spanish team have scored more goals than Oyarzabal, including David Villa, Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Torres, Alvaro Morata, David Silva and Fernando Hierro.
Whether Spain can maintain that form in the face of bigger challenges in the round of 16 and beyond is still a question mark. However, with Yamal, Oyarzabal and a quality squad like Baena, Cucurella or Porro, La Roja's potential to compete for the championship at this time is undeniable.
After the match, Yamal affirmed: "The World Cup has just really begun. If we lose, we will have to go home. And no one in the team wants that to happen.
