Spain 3-0 Austria: La Roja's solid defensive unit could help them secure World Cup glory this summer

Spain booked their spot successful the last-16 signifier of the 2026 World Cup courtesy of a 3-0 triumph implicit Austria successful California connected Thursday.

Mikel Oyarzabal sent La Roja up successful the 36th infinitesimal of the contest, earlier Pedro Porro made it 2-0 successful the 66th minute, and Austria simply had nary response.

There was adjacent clip for Oyarzabal to marque it 3 successful the second stages.

In Lamine Yamal, Spain person an attacking superstar, but Luis de la Fuente's broadside person not conceded a azygous extremity astatine this summer's World Cup.

In truth, Austria hardly threatened, with Spain incredibly comfy from a antiaircraft constituent of view, and La Roja person an fantabulous instauration to physique from successful this tournament.

Spain 3-0 Austria: What conscionable happened?

Mikel Oyarzabal is the archetypal Spanish subordinate to people a World Cup knockout signifier extremity since Andres Iniesta successful the 2010 final! ?? pic.twitter.com/tTsfDF3BGD

In truth, determination was not a azygous play during the lucifer erstwhile Austria looked arsenic if they would beryllium the squad to beforehand to the last-16 signifier of the competition.

Spain were smarter, quicker and much dynamic, with the quality successful people apparent.

It took until the 36th infinitesimal for the deadlock to beryllium broken, with Oyarzabal uncovering a astute finish, earlier Porro's header doubled the advantage; Oyarzabal's 2nd of the contention past arrived successful the second stages.

Spain merit their spot successful the last-16 signifier of the competition, with La Roja present waiting to larn whether it volition beryllium Portugal oregon Croatia successful the adjacent round.

Spain 3-0 Austria: The large talking point

Much has been made of France's attack, which is simply sensational, and it would beryllium just to accidental that Spain's chances of occurrence this summertime person been played down of late.

However, La Roja look incredibly coagulated from a antiaircraft constituent of view.

Unai Simon is an outstanding goalkeeper, portion Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte were some ascendant against Austria - the brace person been each tournament.

Spain's fig 1 Simon really present has the grounds for the longest clip without conceding astatine a World Cup, breaking Walter Zenga's long-standing record.

Marc Cucurella is showing wherefore Real Madrid were truthful keen to motion him this summer, portion Rodri and Pedri are performing fantabulous roles successful the mediate of midfield.

Rodri astatine his champion is simply a delight to watch, and this was a ascendant show from the Manchester City midfielder, which volition basal Spain successful bully stead.

It is inactive zero goals conceded astatine the 2026 World Cup for the European champions.

Spain 3-0 Austria: The bigger picture

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Of course, determination volition beryllium tougher tests ahead.

Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and Austria each deficiency prime successful the last 3rd of the field, truthful Spain's antiaircraft grounds this summertime indispensable beryllium looked astatine successful context.

That said, the signifier of the squad has been truthful impressive, and it had been questioned earlier the tourney whether Spain were defensively bully capable to bask occurrence this summer.

Spain person superior endowment successful the last 3rd of the field, with Yamal and Oyarzabal successful peculiar having fantabulous tournaments; Alex Baena's caller signifier has besides been strong.

However, if Spain are to triumph the 2026 World Cup, they simply person to beryllium defensively solid, particularly with tests to perchance travel against Portugal and France.