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FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Zach Lowy

After sleepwalking through the group stage, Spain have woken up for the business end of the World Cup

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 02: Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain takes a corner kick during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Spain and Austria at Los Angeles Stadium on July 02, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alex Pantling - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images).

Spain achieved their first knockout win in the FIFA World Cup since the 2010 final in South Africa, demolishing Austria 3-0 via goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. They proved why, despite missing a few key players, they are amongst the top candidates to win the 2026 World Cup.

The reigning European champions had gone through a fairly unassuming group stage, drawing 0-0 with Cape Verde and thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta. Spain then edged Uruguay 1-0 in Guadalajara, a match which saw Nico Williams exit due to an adductor injury.

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