Oyarzabal says Spain are among the favourites but must prove it | OneFootball

Mikel Oyarzabal said Spain head into the World Cup as one of the favourites, but that such labels count for nothing until they deliver on the pitch. The Real Sociedad captain added he feels valued, loved and respected within the squad.

According to Diario Vasco, he spoke in Chattanooga and played down comparisons with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, focusing instead on contributing to the collective. He framed his role as adding what he can to a team he believes is functioning well.

His goal against Peru extended his scoring run to six consecutive Spain matches, equalling David Villa. Fernando Hierro and Pirri previously produced similar streaks, and Oyarzabal has had a goal involvement in 11 straight fixtures.

He rejected talk that he is undervalued externally, stressing that selection is the manager’s decision and that team-mates’ respect is what matters. He also swerved a light-hearted tattoo pledge that some team-mates entertained after a joke about marking a potential triumph.

Spain continue preparations for their opener against Cabo Verde on Monday at 18:00. Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal trained fully with the group, and Víctor Muñoz took part with the full squad for the first time.

The media appearance coincided with the national team unveiling a partnership with Google Gemini. Oyarzabal trained with strapping on his right knee after a knock against Peru and said he hopes they start the tournament with a win and can aim for a second star.

Source: Diario Vasco