Spain vs Saudi Arabia: Winners & losers - Oyarzabal leads devastating first-half blitz

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GOAL

·21 Juni 2026

Spain vs Saudi Arabia: Winners & losers - Oyarzabal leads devastating first-half blitz

Spain delivered a comprehensive 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia at the World Cup, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice and assisting another in a devastating first-half display that ended the contest by the 24th minute. The result moved Spain to four points in Group H after their goalless opening draw against Cape Verde. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Spain v Saudi Arabia.

Winners

Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain)

Mikel Oyarzabal transformed Spain's World Cup campaign with a devastating attacking display that included two goals and an assist inside 24 minutes. The forward was unplayable throughout the first half, combining clinical finishing with intelligent movement to torment the Saudi defence.

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Oyarzabal provided the assist for Lamine Yamal's opener at 10 minutes with a measured through ball before scoring twice himself—a close-range left-footed finish at 21 minutes following Aymeric Laporte's pass, then another left-footed strike at the far post three minutes later from Dani Olmo's headed assist.

He came agonisingly close to a hat-trick when his shot struck the post at 36 minutes and the follow-up hit the crossbar, while having further efforts saved and blocked. His complete reversal from the subdued display against Cape Verde encapsulated Spain's attacking awakening in this emphatic victory.

Lamine Yamal (Spain)

Lamine Yamal's promotion to the starting lineup after being benched against Cape Verde paid immediate dividends as he broke Spain's 180-minute goalless tournament run with the crucial opener. His right-footed finish at the far post in the 10th minute set the tone for Spain's commanding victory.

The teenager was a constant threat down the right flank, cutting inside to create shooting opportunities throughout his 45 minutes on the pitch. He fired an early shot over at four minutes, forced a save from Mohammed Al-Owais at 36 minutes with a left-footed effort, and sent a follow-up wide moments later.

His directness and willingness to take on defenders repeatedly unbalanced the Saudi backline before he was withdrawn at half-time with the job done. Yamal's selection vindicated coach Luis De la Fuente's decision to change his approach, with the young forward delivering exactly the attacking incision Spain had lacked.

Loser

Hassan Tambakti (Saudi Arabia)

Hassan Tambakti endured a match to forget as part of a Saudi defence that collapsed under Spain's relentless pressure. The centre-back was unable to cope with the movement and quality of Spain's attackers as three goals flew past him inside 24 minutes.

His nightmare continued after the break when Marc Cucurella's powerful shot was saved by Mohammed Al-Owais but rebounded off Tambakti and into the net for Spain's fourth goal at 49 minutes. The own goal compounded what had already been a difficult evening against wave after wave of Spanish attacks.

Tambakti's positioning and timing were frequently exposed as the Saudis struggled to contain Spain's fluid attacking play. While he made some clearances, his consistent struggles at the heart of defence contributed to Saudi Arabia's heaviest defeat of the tournament and left their qualification hopes damaged.