The Austrian team just stopped in the round of 16 after a 0-3 defeat to Spain. This is a match where coach Luis de la Fuente's team completely controlled the game, thereby extending their impressive performance streak at the tournament.
Speaking after the match, coach Rangnick did not hesitate to praise his opponent. He said: "We have met a team that is in very high form. If we had to choose a championship contender at this time, perhaps it would be Spain".
According to coach Rangnick, the Austrian team made efforts to deploy their familiar playing style but could not make a difference against Spain's ball control, pressing organization and superior technical quality. He also admitted that his team did not have many opportunities when facing one of the strongest teams in the league.
Before the match, coach Rangnick once emphasized that limiting the influence of Lamine Yamal would be key if Austria wanted to create a surprise. However, even though Yamal did not directly score, Spain still showed equal strength thanks to many individuals shining and an efficient operating system.
The victory over Austria helped Spain qualify for the round of 16, where they will meet the winner in the match between the Portuguese national football team and the Croatian national football team. The convincing performance against Austria further strengthens the position of coach De la Fuente's team in the group of top candidates for the 2026 World Cup championship.
