Spain Dominate Austria with Ease, Storming Their Way Into the Last 16

Spain delivered its finest display of the tournament so far, comfortably advancing to the round of 16 with a commanding 3–0 victory over a lackluster Austria on Thursday.

Ralf Rangnick, whose influence upon taking charge proved instrumental in Austria's resurgence, repeatedly acknowledged his side's disadvantage ahead of the match, and the Central Europeans struggled to replicate the identity that had driven their remarkable turnaround.

Spain were thoroughly in control at SoFi Stadium, with Mikel Oyarzabal's opener coming after Marc Cucurella controversially had a strike disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

In an attempt to spark something from his players against an opponent that appeared to have hit its stride, Rangnick introduced two double substitutions at the beginning of the second half. There was a brief flicker of improvement, but Spain's fluid passing and their effortless combinations made Austria's out-of-possession efforts largely pointless.

Pedro Porro nodded home a second from a pinpoint Álex Baena cross, and the European champions' dominant display was wrapped up when Oyarzabal tapped in his second from yet another Cucurella delivery.

Portugal or Croatia will be Spain's opponents in the round of 16 in Dallas.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

Much of the framework from Euro 2024 remains intact, yet Spain presents a somewhat different challenge at this World Cup.

The introduction of the technically gifted Baena in place of the sidelined Nico Williams means La Roja lack the same pace they possessed two years ago, as Baena tends to drift inside and link up between the lines.

One could make the case that Williams's absence on the left flank makes them less of a threat, but there's no questioning the improvement they've made in the center-forward role. The understated Oyarzabal served as Álvaro Morata's deputy in Germany and was Spain's decisive impact substitute against England.

Oyarzabal is now the main man, and after criticism for his subdued showing against Cabo Verde, his impressive recent scoring record for his country has taken center stage. A brace against Saudi Arabia got him going, and the Real Sociedad veteran broke the deadlock at SoFi Stadium with a composed first-time finish.

It's the kind of opportunity Morata might have fluffed, but one Oyarzabal dispatched with ease. He's a clinical finisher in and around the penalty area, and his late second means he has now scored 17 goals in his last 16 starts.

There's a quiet inevitability building around Spain's first-choice striker, and in a star-laden Golden Boot race, Oyarzabal is the silent predator working away from the spotlight.

Spain Player Ratings vs. Austria (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Unai Simón—7.3: Simón's alertness and positioning when dealing with the handful of crosses that came his way deserves credit. He is yet to be beaten at this tournament.

RB: Pedro Porro—8.9: A long-awaited first international goal for the Spurs right-back. Porro arrived in the box to double Spain's lead, finishing cleanly with a straightforward headed effort.

CB: Pau Cubarsí—8.0: Got off to a strong start and did well to prevent Austria's forwards from winning aerial duels.

CB: Aymeric Laporte—8.0: A trouble-free evening for Laporte, who was a picture of composure from start to finish.

LB: Marc Cucurella—8.5: Oddly had a goal chalked off in the first half, but refused to let it disrupt his game. Cucurella was rarely tested at the back and proved a reliable option high and wide down the left flank.

DM: Rodri—8.2: A solid enough showing from Rodri, who has appeared somewhat off the pace at this tournament. Austria, renowned for their pressing, were unable to contain the Manchester City midfielder.

DM: Pedri—7.5: The game flowed naturally for Pedri once again, as he linked up smoothly to bypass Austria's increasingly ineffective press. Worked hard to win the ball back when possession was surrendered.

AM: Dani Olmo—7.5: A clever presence in and around the penalty area, and he came agonizingly close to producing something memorable on a couple of occasions.

RW: Lamine Yamal—7.8: Rangnick had made clear that neutralizing Yamal was Austria's top priority. His side never truly managed to contain the gifted winger, with Konrad Laimer particularly struggling in one-on-one situations. Spain's other attacking outlets ultimately proved decisive in front of goal.

ST: Mikel Oyarzabal—9.1: Another standout performance from Oyarzabal for the national side. After seeing a strike from the edge of the area brilliantly kept out, Spain's striker was perfectly positioned to convert an inviting Cucurella cross with a single touch. That got La Roja moving, and he wrapped things up in the final minutes.

LW: Alex Baena—8.2: Austria may have focused too heavily on Yamal. Baena poses an entirely different kind of danger from the left, with his exceptional technique enhancing Spain's slick central play. His left-footed delivery for Porro's header was perfectly weighted.

SUB: Ferran Torres (71' for Baena)—6.0: The substitute appeared slightly too eager to make an impression, rushing his shots when opportunities presented themselves.

SUB: Mikel Merino (71' for Olmo)—6.1: The Arsenal midfielder had limited involvement, with Austria fading noticeably late on despite not having pushed themselves particularly hard by their usual standards.

SUB: Gavi (85' for Yamal)—N/A

SUB: Fabián Ruiz (90' for Pedri)—N/A

SUB: Marc Pubill (90' for Laporte)—N/A

Subs not used: David Raya (GK), Joan García (GK), Eric García, Marcos Llorente, Alex Grimaldo, Martín Zubimendi, Borja Iglesias, Víctor Muñoz, Yéremy Pino.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Spain's Comfortable Progression

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