Six days ago Spain sleepwalked to humiliation in Atlanta when they failed to breach the defense of the World Cup’s 67th-ranked team in a stalemate that sent shockwaves across the globe. Almost a week later they proved their Cape Verde stage fright was nothing more than a blip by dismantling Saudi Arabia at the very same stadium.
With teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in from the start, the European champions were back to their smooth, swaggering best against a sorry Saudi backline which, on a contrasting note, provided a far more calamitous highlight reel in a 4-0 defeat.
Yamal first ensured there would not be another drab goalless draw this time around when he swept home from Mikel Oyarzabal’s cross inside the 11th minute to get himself and Spain off the mark. Then came the first of Saudi’s shambolic defensive errors when Firas Al-Buraikan failed to clear a ball into the box before it eventually worked its way to Oyarzabal, who was free to poke home one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score.
The Real Sociedad striker put the game to bed two minutes later, with Dani Olmo’s header falling to him in acres of space at the back post, before Marc Cucurella made it four when he too was left completely alone in the six-yard box minutes into the second half.
Yamal, who fizzled out after a bright opening half hour, was surplus to requirements by that point after being taken off wisely by De la Fuente at the interval with the win in the bag, as was Oyarzabal despite being one goal away from a hat-trick.
Saudi were able to stop the rot from that point onwards, yet Spain were more than happy to play tika-taka keep-ball for the remaining 47 minutes on a comfortable afternoon in Atlanta.
Lamine Yamal got off the mark as Spain eased to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia at the World Cup
Yamal up and running
We’ve already seen the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane sprinkle their stardust on this World Cup. Today, at long last, it was Yamal’s turn to officially join the party.
From as early as the opening minute La Roja’s wonderkid showed what Spain were missing for the majority of that sluggish opening display against Cape Verde when he twisted and turned down the right-hand side, outmuscled a Saudi Arabia defender and fired a dangerous ball across goal. It was the exact type of flair and cutting edge De la Fuente was longing for six days ago, and after deploying his strongest attacking weapon from the start this time they had that from the get go.
Then, in the 11th minute, Yamal raised the roof inside Atlanta Stadium when he slid the ball home from Oyarzabal’s cross to register his and Spain’s first goal of the tournament.
As he wheeled away in celebration his attempt at a knee-slide wasn’t as successful, nevertheless, as he briefly stumbled before returning to his feet. De la Fuente’s heart must have been in his mouth.
Yet particularly in the opening half hour, the Barcelona talisman looked sharp on the right flank, with his speed and trickery causing Saudi’s backline all sorts of problems. He is the kind of breathtaking talent, a once-in-a-generation talent, that leaves you on the edge of your seat whenever he gets the ball in anticipation of the magic that could follow.
Unfortunately for the Spanish contingent, his first start only lasted 45 minutes today in Atlanta. De la Fuente, wisely, opted to protect his star man and take him off at the interval with his side already cruising at 3-0.
This was just a taster, but Lamine Yamal has finally arrived at the World Cup.
Yamal finally arrived at the tournament after sliding in La Roja’s opener in the 11th minute
The Saudis are no Cape Verde
While Saudi weathered the storm a lot more effectively after the break, for all of Spain’s quality they were largely helped by some truly shambolic defending at Atlanta Stadium.
After being cut apart far too easily for Yamal’s opener, in the 21st minute Oyarzabal was gifted his first of the day in almost comical fashion when Al-Buraikan tried to chest down a scuffed Dani Olmo shot in the box. In scenes reminiscent of a pinball game, the ball eventually worked its way to Oyarzabal, who was left to poke in one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score.
Just two minutes later, Saudi manager Georgios Donis – the ex-Blackburn player who took charge at the end of April and picked his World Cup squad having not officially overseen a game – had his head in his hands once more when Cucurella teed up Olmo near the penalty spot, whose header to the back post allowed Oyarzabal to bundle in his second and Spain’s third.
Very much resembling a team in their second competitive game with a new coach, the Saudi defense were like statues once again, simply far too passive in their attempt to keep La Roja out. And that continued when Cucurella was left totally unmarked from a corner to make it four just after the break.
Cape Verde provided the defensive blueprint on how to keep Spain out here six days ago. It’s fair to say Saudi Arabia weren’t privy to copies of it.
Saudi Arabia didn’t read the Cape Verde blueprint in what was a sorry defensive display
Don’t sleep on Spain
The Cape Verde stalemate was undoubtedly a cause for concern but Spain banished it from the memory with a much more fluid and ruthless display this time around. If this is anything to go by, that surprising, historic slip-up was merely a blip.
In the first half, Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena was impressive on the left of De la Fuente’s attack and combined well with Cucurella after coming in for Gavi, who was largely anonymous six days ago. Oyarzabal didn’t register a touch in the first half-hour against Cape Verde but was back to his clinical best, and Olmo was a constant threat just behind him.
Heading into the tournament they were one of the favorites to go all the way in New Jersey next month. After their opening wobble, this one-sided beatdown reminded us why.
The price isn’t right, again
On the eve of Sunday’s game the cheapest tickets available on resale sites were all listed for upwards of $1,000. It’s almost becoming tiring to point it out, but that astronomical price means it’s no surprise to see so many empty seats at World Cup stadiums this summer.
That was the same again this afternoon at Atlanta Stadium, where FIFA’s blushes were spared somewhat by the fact that the empty red seats were the same color as Spain jerseys, meaning they blended in more than usual.
However, unless hundreds of spectators decided to watch the action on TVs down in the concourse, the claim over the speaker and on the big screen that there was a ‘full house’ of 68,239 here cannot have been accurate.
