After the criticism that followed Spain's disappointing opening match draw with Cape Verde, La Roja finally gave their fans something to celebrate with a convincing 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
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I think a lot of people including myself were surprised by Spain's performance against Cape Verde in their first game. They looked short of ideas and lacked the intensity we normally associate with Spanish football. Because of that, there was a lot of pressure on them heading into this match, and they responded brilliantly.
From the very first few minutes, Spain looked like a completely different team. Their passing was quicker, their movement was sharper, and they played with much more confidence. It didn't take long for that improvement to show on the scoreboard.
The player who caught my attention the most was Lamine Yamal. Despite his young age, he played with the confidence of a seasoned professional. His opening goal was not the spectacular type we often expect from him, but it showed another side of his game. He was in the right place at the right time and finished calmly to give Spain the lead.
Once Spain went ahead, they never looked back. Mikel Oyarzabal was outstanding and scored twice in quick succession to put the match beyond Saudi Arabia before halftime. His movement inside the penalty area was excellent, and he constantly found space where the defenders couldn't track him.
The second half was more controlled, with Spain focusing on maintaining possession and managing the game. Saudi Arabia struggled to create meaningful chances, while Spain continued to threaten whenever they moved forward. Their fourth goal came through an unfortunate own goal, but by then the result was already beyond doubt.
One thing that stood out to me was how much Yamal influenced the team's overall performance. Every time he got on the ball, something seemed to happen. His energy appeared to lift the players around him, and Spain looked far more dangerous than they did in their previous match.
Although Ferran Torres had a late goal ruled out by VAR, it did little to take away from what was a complete performance by Spain. This was the response their supporters wanted to see.
If Spain can maintain this level of intensity and attacking quality, they will be a difficult team for anyone to face as the tournament progresses. Their World Cup campaign may have started slowly, but this performance suggests they are finally finding their rhythm at the perfect time.
Posted Using INLEO
