Yamal nets 1st World Cup goal to fuel Spain rout
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- Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal in his first start, tapping in Mikel Oyarzabal's cross at the back post in the 10th minute to become the eighth-youngest scorer in men's World Cup history.
- Spain thrashed Saudi Arabia 4-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, climbing into pole position in the group ahead of Thursday's final group game against Uruguay.
- Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and set up Yamal's opener, redeeming himself after heavy criticism for not touching the ball in the first 30 minutes of the Cape Verde draw.
- Luis de la Fuente called the post-Cape Verde criticism "unfair" and said it "hurt" his team, pointing to Spain's 33-game unbeaten run under his management.
- De la Fuente subbed Yamal at halftime with Spain already 3-0 up, insisting the 18-year-old could have stayed on and will be available for a full match against Uruguay.
- Yamal told DAZN he had dreamed of scoring in a World Cup start and revealed he watched the last World Cup "in class at school," while telling TVE he has "complete trust" in De la Fuente as he continues to manage a hamstring comeback.
Why it matters: Spain's 4-0 response — Yamal's milestone, Oyarzabal's brace, and a clean reassertion of control — puts them in the driver's seat going into Thursday's Uruguay match and validates De la Fuente's 33-game-unbeaten squad after a week of harsh post-Cape Verde criticism. The sub-at-halftime move signals Spain could afford to manage Yamal's hamstring rather than ride him, a luxury they won't have against a tougher opponent.
