Spain have Lamine Yamal back and finally resemble World Cup contenders
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Spain coach Luis de la Fuente cautions against comparing 18-year-old Lamine Yamal to legends like Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona, despite Yamal's impressive World Cup debut.
- Yamal scored in Spain's 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, showcasing his talent early in the match and helping Spain reestablish themselves as tournament favorites after a lackluster opener.
- De la Fuente made significant lineup changes, including starting Yamal and adjusting the midfield to allow Pedri to control the game deeper, resulting in a dominant first-half performance.
- Mikel Oyarzabal also starred with two goals and an assist, earning the match MVP honors and highlighting his often-underrated contributions to the Spanish national team.
- Both Yamal and Oyarzabal were substituted at halftime, with the coach emphasizing Yamal's hunger and potential for further growth in the tournament.
