Spain vs Austria LIVE: Yamal bids for World Cup success as European champions face tricky test

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The Independent

·2 juillet 2026

Spain vs Austria LIVE: Yamal bids for World Cup success as European champions face tricky test

European champions Spain continue their pursuit of global glory as they face a potentially tricky World Cup test against Austria in the round of 32.

An opening misfire against Cape Verde did not prevent Luis de la Fuente’s side from topping Group H, with wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay ensured a safe progression. Their reward? An Austrian team that kept their own tournament hopes alive with a dramatic draw against Algeria, snatching an equaliser at the last to finish above their opponents and set up this intriguing tie.

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Lamine Yamal and co. may just fancy their chances against a backline that struggled at times in that game. The teenager is back to full fitness after an injury-disrupted end to the Barcelona season and seeking to impress again on football’s biggest stage – though fitness questions elsewhere in the forward line pose selection problems for Spain, who haven’t won a World Cup knockout game since the 2010 final...