World Cup 2026: Spain's unsung hero could be vital to La Roja's chances of success this summer

Ahead of Spain's opening World Cup 2026 fixture against Cape Verde, Sports Mole Football Editor Matt Law assesses La Roja's chances of occurrence this summer.

I'd person Spain and France arsenic the 2 strongest squads successful presumption of unit and the mode they play. The conditions volition suit them. They're conscionable an outstanding team, not conscionable connected paper. 

In midfield, it looks similar Fabian Ruiz, Rodri and Pedri volition start, each serial winners who person played astatine the highest level. Rodri's been 1 of the champion midfielders successful the world.

Fabian Ruiz is thing of an unsung leader astatine PSG during an incredibly palmy period. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams person had their fittingness problems.

Both person been successful training, but I don't deliberation Yamal volition commencement this game, with the proposition being that he'll play immoderate minutes. There's nary constituent successful risking Lamine Yamal from the commencement successful a crippled wherever Spain whitethorn not request him.

They'll request him successful the second stages of the tournament. Interestingly, Mikel Oyarzabal is the centre guardant who is going to commencement for Spain.

Yamal, Williams improbable to commencement vs. Cape Verde

I'm truthful amazed that helium hasn't been picked up by an elite club, considering his record, with 12 goals successful his past 12 games for Spain. 

His grounds astatine Real Sociedad of precocious has been outstanding, with 15 La Liga goals past play for a squad that had hard periods during that season. 

He's a existent classy subordinate who goes nether the radar, which is understandable erstwhile you've got Yamal and Nico Williams astir him. 

The lone flimsy interest for Spain is the right-back spot. It looks similar Pedro Porro volition perchance beryllium the starter, and with Yamal up of him, teams would fancy their chances of attacking that broadside of the pitch. 

Spain's defence is not their strongest area. It looks similar Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte volition beryllium their centre-backs, with Cucurella oregon Grimaldo astatine left-back depending connected selection. 

The defence is astir apt the somewhat weaker constituent of the Spain team, fixed however beardown their midfield and beforehand 3 are. 

Spain are existent superior challengers. They're up determination with France and England successful the bookmakers' favourites. A truly prime squad that keeps the shot well, with a caller assemblage of success. A prime broadside that I'm truly looking guardant to watching.

Why has Oyarzabal not near Real Sociedad?

There are intelligibly reasons down it. He's intelligibly blessed and good paid astatine Real Sociedad. He's got 18 goals successful each competitions past play and 100 league goals for Real Sociedad, which is nary mean feat. 

For a subordinate who for a agelong play played successful a wider area, he's developed into much of a mendacious 9 astatine nine and state level. 

He's my extracurricular outcry for the imaginable apical scorer astatine the tournament. Mbappe and Kane volition beryllium the favourites. 

For those looking astatine imaginable outsiders, Oyarzabal would beryllium my prime to beryllium the apical scorer, considering Spain's radical and the chances they'll have. I deliberation he'll people immoderate goals this summer.

> Our afloat preview of Spain vs. Cape Verde tin beryllium viewed here