Spain secure last 16 spot with dominant win over Austria

By Nathan Crowley · Sports News Writer · July 2, 2026

By Nathan Crowley — 2 July 2026 — 3 min read

Spain advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup after a convincing 3-0 victory against Austria. The match saw Mikel Oyarzabal score two goals, with Pedro Porro adding another, ensuring Spain’s progression in the tournament. This win marks Spain’s first knockout stage victory since their championship run in 2010.

The encounter, played on a sunny afternoon, showcased a revitalised Spanish side. Their performance was characterised by intensity and dominance, fulfilling their coach’s request for a recognisable style of play. Spain maintained a clean sheet for the fourth consecutive game, with Unai Simón surpassing Iker Casillas‘s record. The central defensive partnership of Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte also continued to impress.

Spain’s attacking prowess on display

From the outset, the game promised excitement, with an early battle between Konrad Laimer and Lamine Yamal. Yamal had an initial shot saved by Alexander Schlager within the first minute, signaling Spain’s attacking intent. Despite Austria’s efforts to press forward, Spain found ample space to execute their fast-paced, stretching play, ultimately taking control of the match.

Opportunities began to materialise for Spain, including a volley from Dani Olmo that was inadvertently blocked by Oyarzabal, and a header over the bar from Laporte. Austria also had a significant chance when Laimer advanced, and Marcel Sabitzer‘s cross narrowly missed Michael Gregoritsch. However, Spain continued to press, with Stefan Posch making a crucial intervention as Yamal entered the area.

A goal from Marc Cucurella following a corner was disallowed after the referee ruled that Cubarsí had interfered with Schlager. Despite this setback, Spain persisted. A notable run by Yamal led to Schlager making a save from Oyarzabal’s low shot. Spain eventually broke the deadlock when Pedri played the ball to Cucurella, whose low delivery was converted by Oyarzabal.

Austria attempted to accelerate their play, but Spain’s defensive commitment was evident through a series of recoveries. Pedro Porro, Rodri, and Olmo were all involved in tidying up play and preventing Austrian attacks. A subsequent Spanish dash resulted in a free-kick from which Álex Baena struck the crossbar. Yamal seemed poised to score from the rebound, but Schlager made another save.

Second half dominance seals victory

Spain maintained their momentum in the second half, despite an early opportunity for Austria. Sabitzer delivered a ball to Sasa Kalajdzic, who had just entered the game, but his header went over. Spain had accumulated 17 attempts by this point, demonstrating their offensive pressure.

The second goal for Spain came after an initial effort from Olmo was blocked. The ball was recovered and fed to Baena, who pulled it back for Porro to head in, effectively ending the contest. Oyarzabal then completed his brace, scoring Spain’s third goal after a smooth, well-timed pass that originated from Simón at one end of the pitch and concluded at the other, epitomising Spain’s desired style of play.

According to user ratings, Lamine Yamal was named Player of the Match with an average rating of 7.97. Other highly-rated Spanish players included Pedro Porro with 7.75 and Mikel Oyarzabal with 7.74. Spain will now face either Portugal or Croatia in the next stage of the tournament.

Source: theguardian.com

Nathan Crowley

Sports News Writer

Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”