Spain secure dominant victory over Austria
Spain secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Austria in Los Angeles, advancing to the last-16 of the World Cup. The win solidified Spain’s position as a strong contender in the tournament, with many viewing them as significant challengers to France for the title. The team’s performance showcased their quality and depth, dominating possession and consistently pressing Austria.
The opening goal came from Mikel Oyarzabal, who calmly converted a cross from the left in the first half. Spain extended their lead in the second half when Pedro Porro scored, following excellent work from Marc Cucurella. Oyarzabal then netted his second goal of the match, and his fourth of the tournament, from another Cucurella cross, sealing the 3-0 result.
This victory means Spain will proceed to the last-16, where they are set to face either Portugal or Croatia at AT&T Stadium on July 6. The team’s route to the final appears challenging, with potential matchups against Portugal in the round of 16, Belgium in the quarter-finals, and France in the semi-finals, which could take place in Dallas on July 14.
Yamal’s impact and Spain’s tactical approach
Despite not scoring, Lamine Yamal was a constant threat throughout the match, displaying his skill and causing significant problems for the Austrian defence. He went closest to scoring when his shot was cleared off the line by David Alaba. Austria’s coach, Ralf Rangnick, attempted to counter Yamal’s influence by moving Konrad Laimer to left-back, leading to an engaging contest between the two players.
Yamal’s performance included two nutmegs on Laimer and a sharp no-look pass to Porro, demonstrating his ability to create opportunities. He consistently gained possession on the right wing and drove towards goal, maintaining close control of the ball. This display indicated that Yamal is regaining his form after recovering from a hamstring injury in April.
Spain’s tactical approach, characterised by possession dominance, was evident against Austria. The team maintained an average possession of 69.4% and effectively pinned Austria back into their own half. This style has been a hallmark of the Spanish national team for two decades, evolving to include a greater counter-attacking threat with the integration of players like Yamal and Nico Williams, contributing to their Euro 2024 victory.
The team’s defensive work-rate also played a crucial role. When possession was lost, Spain’s attacking players quickly swarmed the ball to regain it, preventing Austria from building momentum. This relentless desire to win back possession allows Spain to sustain their attacks and wear down opponents, as seen in their performance against Austria.
Goalkeeping records and tournament expectations
Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simon, had a relatively quiet game but achieved a significant milestone. He set a new record for minutes without conceding a goal at World Cups, reaching 461 minutes, surpassing the previous mark set by Iker Casillas during the 2010 and 2014 tournaments. Near full-time, Simon further extended this record to 517 minutes, exceeding the all-time World Cup finals record held by former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga from Italia ’90.
The team’s strong defensive performance is also reflected in their tournament statistics, having not conceded a goal this summer and shipping the lowest expected goals tally of any nation (0.5). Spain has also maintained an impressive unbeaten run of 34 matches.
Despite their strong form, Spain’s path to the final is considered challenging. They entered the tournament as joint favourites but have seen their odds drift due to the quality of their rivals and the knockout draw. Their performances, however, have been largely positive, with two wins in their last two games following an earlier stalemate with Cape Verde.
One area of focus for Spain has been their ability to break down stubborn low blocks, a challenge not expected from Rangnick’s Austria side. Pedri, Spain’s playmaker, has been instrumental in creating chances, completing six key passes, a figure tied with Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham. Pedri also ranks high in expected assists (xA) at the tournament, with 1.4 xA, and third for xA per 90 with 0.58, though he is yet to provide an actual assist.
Austria, on the other hand, has struggled defensively, having not kept a clean sheet yet and conceding five goals in the tournament. Marko Arnautovic, expected to lead the line for Austria, was carded in his nation’s last outing, accumulating three bookings in his last 10 major tournament appearances.
The match also featured a disallowed goal for Cucurella in the first half, with referee Glenn Nyberg calling a foul on Austria’s goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. This decision aligned with a perceived trend in the World Cup where officials have been instructed to protect goalkeepers, even when the fouls may not be clear. The outcome of the match means Spain will continue their World Cup campaign in the last-16 on July 6.
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Source: sportinglife.com
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”