Spain eases past Austria on day five of the World Cup round of 32

Thursday had another blockbuster day of Round of 32 World Cup action, with 3 more games deciding the fate of 6 nations. The day kicked off with Group H winners Spain taking on Group J runners-up Austria. 

Luis De La Fuente opted for just the one change to the starting XI that began the 1-0 win over Uruguay, with Dani Olmo coming into the number 10 spot for Mikel Merino. Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena kept their starting positions on the wings, and then Mikel Oyarzabal was the lone striker. 

Ralf Rangnick opted to make 3 changes to his Austrian team that started the chaotic 3-3 draw with Algeria in their last group stage game. Kevin Danso, Paul Wanner, and Michael Gregoritsch came into the lineup to replace Marko Arnautovic, Phillipp Mwene, and Philipp Lienhart. 

General view of the Spain and Austria flags and players on the pitch before the match

DANIEL COLE

World Cup Round of 32 - Spain vs Austria

The opening half hour of the game was devoid of any real chances for either side, with Spain on top, but most of their crosses into the box went uncapitalized, and passes in the final third went astray. It got worse for Spain as on the stroke of 30 minutes played, Cucurella had the ball in the back of the net from a corner, but the ref called for a foul on the goalkeeper, which I think was a horrendous call. 

Alexander Schlager produced a brilliant save just a few minutes later from a Mikel Oyarzabal shot from inside the box, but Schlager couldn’t keep Spain at bay for much longer, and it was Oyarzabal who finally beat him when he got onto the end of a Cucurella ball into the box to put Spain 1-0 up. 

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates scoring their third goal

JESSIE ALCHEH

The 2024 European Championship winners went close again right on the stroke of halftime when Alex Baena rattled the bar with a free-kick, and then Lamine Yamal saw his near-post effort well saved by Schlager as the Austrian goalkeeper made sure to send his side into the halftime break just the one goal down. 

Oyarzabal came close to his 2nd of the game just a few minutes out of the half-time break, but his effort was tame in the end and straight at Schlager in goal. Austria had a good chance to equalize on the 60th-minute mark when a Marcel Sabitzer ball into the box found Kalajdzic’s head, but his header went just too high above the goal frame. 

Spain's Pedro Porro scores their second goal

Lisi Niesner

6 minutes after the Kalajdzic header, Spain had their 2nd goal of the game when some brilliant work down the left side by Alex Baena resulted in the Spanish winger finding Pedro Porro in the middle of the box, and the Spurs and Spain right back powered a header into the back of the net to put Spain 2-0 up. 

Austria pushed to find their way back into the game and came close when some exceptional team build-up from them found Chukwuemeka on the edge of the box, but the midfielder could only fire over the bar. Austria came close with a few crosses into the box, but their forwards just couldn’t get on the end of the balls into the Spanish box. 

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates scoring their third goal with Gavi and Marc Cucurella

Lisi Niesner

Lamine Yamal went close to a World Cup goal with just 5 minutes left on the clock, but his shot was brilliantly blocked and cleared off the line by Austrian legend and ex Real Madrid and Bayern Munich defender David Alaba. Unfortunately for Austria, they couldn’t keep Spain from getting their 3rd goal when Spain played some lovely football down the left, and Cucurella found Oyarzabal with an exceptional early ball into the forward, who slotted home for his 4th of the tournament and his 17th goal for Spain in his last 16 international appearances. 

Spain came away as the winners, winning by a comfortable 3-0 scoreline. It easily could have been more without a controversial foul ruling a goal out for them and Alaba’s goal-line heroics. The 2024 Euros winners and the 2010 World Cup winners will now face the winner of Portugal vs Croatia in the Round of 16. 

Day 6 of the Round of 32

Friday brings another action-packed day of Round of 32 World Cup games, with 3 more games between 6 teams fighting for their places in the Round of 16. We first have Australia vs Egypt, then it’s the turn of Argentina vs this World Cup’s heroes, Cape Verde, and finally, to finish off the day’s action, it’s Colombia vs Ghana. 

MORE: Philly Sports Network's World Cup Coverage