Portugal 0-1 Spain: When will Lamine Yamal have his big World Cup 2026 moment?

Thank you, Mikel Merino, for sparing america different half-hour of what was a humdrum 90 minutes astatine AT&T Stadium, with the Arsenal antheral scoring precocious connected to seal Spain's 1-0 triumph over Portugal successful the World Cup 2026 last-16 encounter.  

Luis de la Fuente's men had power of proceedings for overmuch of the lucifer without it ever lighting up arsenic galore observers hoped.

Mikel Oyarzabal could not replicate his round-of-32 heroics connected Monday, portion the Marc Cucurella-Alex Baena link-up connected the near flank was not arsenic effectual against the 2016 European champions.  

In the end, Merino's expertise astatine deciding games from the seat continued; it is simply a relation helium is versed successful astatine Arsenal and 1 helium expertly filled against Germany astatine Euro 2024, scoring a 119th-minute victor to seal a quarter-final victory.  

Lamine Yamal acceptable up Dani Olmo's extremity connected the day, but the wide attacker's power was different muted, conscionable arsenic it was against Portugal and however it has mostly been astatine the 2026 World Cup.  

Here, Sports Mole asks whether the Barcelona winger volition person his large infinitesimal successful the quarter-finals aft a so-far run-of-the-mill debut connected the planetary stage.

Lamine Yamal: How has Spain winger fared astatine World Cup 2026?

Without a doubt, Yamal was a large miss successful La Roja's mendacious commencement against Cape Verde, highlighted by his direct, assertive moving aft his 71st-minute introduction.  

Although De la Fuente's squad could not unpick an organised Blue Sharks side, the winger's instrumentality aft missing astir 2 months of enactment boded good for the 2010 satellite champions.  

If the insipid archetypal 71 minutes of the tournament-opening gully near observers scratching their heads, the upswing successful show aft the teenager's instauration was instructive.  

With him successful the side, Spain's inclination to revert into passing for the involvement of it was removed. However, performances since person been mixed.  

Although the 18-year-old's beingness astir means that helium is double-teamed by astir opponents, efficaciously leaving 1 escaped man, others person stepped up with decisive goals and assists.  

Yamal, though, has hitherto failed to sparkle anyplace adjacent arsenic consistently arsenic helium can.

Instead, the youngster has been outshone successful North America by colleagues who person arguably been much decisive.  

The wide attacker has taken much shots than anyone against Saudi Arabia (five), Austria (six) and Portugal (three), but lone 1 has resulted successful a goal.  

While this is not successful immoderate mode criticising the teenager, who has carried a menace with his assertive ball-carrying, the lack of a decisive publication whitethorn yet wounded the forward.  

With Spain winning, Yamal's deficiency of extremity merchandise falls nether the radar; erstwhile the tables turn, expect the youngster to look fierce opprobrium.

Will Spain's defence support Yamal astatine the 2026 World Cup?

If Yamal keeps firing blanks and is incapable to registry an assist, the 18-year-old tin beryllium assured successful what is happening down him.

La Roja person attacking quality, but De la Fuente's men person a antiaircraft meanness astir them that has not gone unnoticed.

The 2010 World Cup winners person yet to fto successful a extremity aft 5 matches successful North America, with Unai Simon present entering the quarter-final against Belgium oregon the USMNT having not conceded successful 609 minutes of World Cup action.

Attacks triumph games, but defence wins you titles; if Spain proceed to leverage their antiaircraft resoluteness, their onslaught has capable prime from the commencement oregon from the seat to determine games.

That counts for something, adjacent arsenic Yamal searches for his large announcement connected his debut astatine the Mundial.