How Spain breezed to World Cup knockout stage win for 16 years | OneFootball

Spain produced their best performance of the World Cup so far in California to secure their first knockout stage win since 2010 via a 3-0 thumping of Austria.

A Mikel Oyarzabal brace either side of Pedro Porro’s header ensured Luis de la Fuente’s men booked a last 16 dance with the winner of Portugal vs Croatia, and finally showed what they are capable of following an inconsistent group stage.

For the most part this was a confident, assured performance from the Euro 2024 winners as they look to prove that the tournament shall not be a France walkover after all.

FromTheSpot analyses how Spain did so well, and if they can get even better as the competition gets into full swing.

Spanish full backs take charge

Like Scotland against Brazil, Spain played a 4231 transitioning to a 2431 in attack. Unlike Scotland, however, they had the quality – and tactical acumen – to pull such a setup off.

This was especially evident through the fullbacks, as Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro often ran beyond the wingers to provide an additional outlet out wide. Indeed, Cucurella was involved in both of his country’s first two goals.

In the first he received the ball from Pedri on the overlap before feeding Oyarzabal with a pinpoint cross, whilst the second involved a give and go with Alex Baena who whipped in for Porro to head home.

Yamal and Pedri both shine again

Unsurprisingly Yamal was another key cog in the Spanish attacking armada, and his versatility was on full display here as he terrorised the Austrian backline. The Barcelona man’s fluidity was particularly impressive.

Not only did the 18-year-old repeatedly beat his man from the touchline, but he also drifted into central areas and engaged in sublime interplay with Porro and Pedri respectively.

Speaking of Pedri, his performance was particularly noteworthy. Barcelona’s midfield metronome completed 19 out of 22 passes in Austria’s final third and seamlessly linked play in wide areas by dropping into the half spaces.

Defence a potential concern as tournament hots up

For all the positives, however, Spain’s high line left them exposed on a couple of occasions in the first half and could be a worry heading into the last 16.

Wide positions were a particular concern, with the Austrian full backs allowed plenty of time to whip crosses in due to Cucurella and Porro lacking pace to get back from forward runs.

Aymeric Laporte’s own lack of speed, meanwhile, allowed Ralf Rangnick’s men to play several dangerous through balls down the middle which would’ve been punished against better opposition.

Thankfully for de la Fuente, his team tightened up as the match went on. But both Portugal and Croatia possess significantly better forwards than the Austrians, and will surely outdo their lowly xG of 0.32.

All things considered this was a phenomenal performance by La Roja. One full of vim and vigour, which was sorely needed after the Southern Europeans struggled in group matches against Uruguay and Cape Verde.

Some work is still needed defensively if the Spaniards are to win the tournament against a rampant France, but based on tonight’s display there is no reason to believe such an outcome isn’t possible.

So far as Spain are concerned, this was a simple message: write us off at your peril. It is one that other teams must now heed.

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