Before every Spain game at this World Cup, Lamine Yamal’s name has dominated the back of fans’ shirts. But when the reigning European champions needed a match-winner against Austria in the last 32, it was the invisible man who delivered.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain cruised to a 3-0 victory in Los Angeles, securing their first knockout win in 16 years and a place in the last 16. The 29-year-old Real Sociedad striker, who missed the 2022 World Cup with a ruptured ACL in his left knee, now has four goals in this tournament and 17 in his last 16 international starts.
“Mikel Oyarzabal scores twice as Spain beat Austria 3-0 to reach World Cup last 16.”
“Mikel Oyarzabal is the invisible man, he has scored in every final he has ever played,” Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He is one of the most intelligent players we have and he is the other one who can be a match-winner.”
Spain thought they had taken the lead just before the half-hour mark through Marc Cucurella, but the goal was disallowed for a soft foul on Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. Cucurella turned provider on 36 minutes, teeing up Oyarzabal to break the deadlock.
After the break, Austria pushed for an equaliser. Substitute Sasa Kalajdzic headed over the bar, but Spain exploited the space in behind. Alex Baena found Pedro Porro bursting into the penalty area, and the Tottenham right-back headed home his first international goal to put the game to bed. Oyarzabal added a second late on, again assisted by Cucurella.
“Sometimes people are in doubt about Spain because of the centre-forward, but Oyarzabal is doing the job,” former Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta told BBC One. “A few years ago, he was playing a bit more on the right wing and he has transitioned more into the middle.”
Oyarzabal became the first Spanish player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Emilio Butragueno in 1986. Since the start of last year, only Norway’s Erling Haaland has more international goals among European players (22).
Spain keeper Unai Simon kept his second consecutive clean sheet, breaking a 36-year-old record by going 518 minutes without conceding at the World Cup. The European champions now face Portugal or Croatia in the last 16.