You don't win a World Cup by playing it safe. Spain learned that the hard way during their agonizing, scoreless draw against Cape Verde. They looked rigid, predictable, and totally toothless.
Then Luis de la Fuente finally unleashed the kid.
Lamine Yamal didn't just kickstart Spain's tournament in Atlanta. He completely altered the dynamic of this team. If you watched his performance during the 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia, you saw something much bigger than a standard group-stage win. You witnessed the moment Spain found its identity in 2026.
The Teenager Who Fixed De La Fuente System
Let's look at what went wrong against Cape Verde. Spain had all the ball but absolutely zero vertical threat. They missed the speed, the arrogance, and the sheer unpredictability that made them kings of Europe. Mikel Oyarzabal didn't even manage a single touch in the box during his first thirty minutes in that opening match. He looked isolated, frustrated, and completely starved of service.
Yamal changed everything in ten minutes.
Returning to the starting lineup after battling a stubborn hamstring injury, the 18-year-old Barcelona winger brought immediate chaos to the Saudi defense. His very first touch was a nightmare for his marker, twisting inside out before floating a dangerous ball across the penalty area.
Then came the historic moment in the 10th minute. Oyarzabal drove down the left side and flashed a low, fizzing ball across the six-yard box. Yamal didn't hesitate. He ghosted behind the Saudi backline and slid into the back post to poke the ball home.
By scoring that goal, Yamal became only the second player in football history aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a World Cup match. The only other person on that list? A 17-year-old Pelé against Wales back in 1958. That is the kind of rarefied air we are talking about.
"I watched the last World Cup from a classroom," Yamal told DAZN after the match. "Being able to score here with my mum and my family in the stands is a dream come true."
How One Winger Unlocked Mikel Oyarzabal
Football is a game of spaces. When Yamal is on the pitch, opposing defenders are forced to shift, double up, and drop deeper. That creates massive pockets of space for everyone else.
Oyarzabal was the biggest beneficiary. After facing heavy criticism for his blunt display on Monday, the Real Sociedad forward looked like a completely different player in Atlanta. With Yamal occupying the attention of the Saudi backline, Oyarzabal turned into an absolute predator.
He didn't just score; he killed the game off before the first hydration break.
- The 21st minute: Dani Olmo forced a chaotic sequence from a corner. Aymeric Laporte nodded the ball down, and Oyarzabal bundled it into the net to make it 2-0.
- The 24th minute: A goal of pure, fluid perfection. Pedro Porro floated a brilliant pass into the box. Marc Cucurella hooked it toward Olmo, who headed it straight into the path of Oyarzabal. He caught it beautifully on the volley. 3-0.
Opta stats later confirmed that Oyarzabal is the only player since detailed records began in 1966 to score twice and assist another within the opening 25 minutes of a World Cup match. It was a staggering response to the critics outside the camp.
Managing Fitness for the Real Test Ahead
Luis de la Fuente celebrated his 65th birthday on Sunday, and his players gave him the perfect gift. But the coach isn't naive. He knows the tournament only gets harder from here.
With a 3-0 cushion at halftime, De la Fuente made the incredibly smart decision to pull both Yamal and Oyarzabal off the pitch. There was absolutely no point in risking Yamal's hamstring or burning out Oyarzabal when the match was already won. Ferran Torres and Yéremy Pino came on to get some minutes, allowing Spain to transition into a comfortable cruise control.
The fourth goal arrived just four minutes after the restart, courtesy of an unfortunate own goal by Saudi defender Hassan Altambakti. Marc Cucurella hit a sweet volley from a corner that Mohammed Al-Owais managed to block, but the rebound slammed off Altambakti and rolled into the net.
Ferran Torres thought he added a fifth late in stoppage time after converting a cross from Fabián Ruiz, but a lengthy VAR check ruled it offside. Honestly, 4-0 was more than enough to send a massive message to the rest of the field.
What This Means for Group H
Spain now sits at the top of Group H with four points and a very healthy goal difference. The anxiety that gripped Madrid and Barcelona after the opening matchday has vanished, replaced by a familiar swagger.
But nobody should get ahead of themselves. Saudi Arabia ran out of gas, and their tactical setup played right into Spain's hands. The real test comes on June 26 when La Roja faces Marcelo Bielsa's highly physical, relentless Uruguay side. That match will determine who wins the group and secures the easier path through the knockout stages.
If you want to track Spain's progress or see if Yamal can sustain this historic run, keep a close eye on the tactical changes De la Fuente makes in the next match. Watch how Uruguay tries to crowd Yamal out of the game, and whether Pedri and Olmo can continue to find him in transition.
Go watch the highlights of that opening 20-minute blitz against Saudi Arabia. Pay attention to how quickly Spain moves the ball compared to their first match. That verticality is the blueprint for the rest of this tournament. If they stick to it, they are going to be incredibly tough to stop.
