24.
6:25 p.m
Great for Spain, 3-0 by Mikel Oyarzabal
Double pack! It’s too easy, Saudi Arabia simply lets Spain have its way and so Oyarzabal thanks him with his second goal within three minutes from close range.
21.
18:23
Great for Spain, 2-0 by Mikel Oyarzabal
Mikel Oyarzabal rewards himself! After the corner, Olmo’s shot on the edge of the box failed completely and ended up at Laporte, who headed it to Mikel Oyarzabal.
20.
18:22
A Saudi throw-in on the halfway line almost results in a goal being conceded; the extremely conspicuous Mikel Oyarzabal can only be blocked twice. There is a corner kick.
19.
6:20 p.m
Again Oyarzabal, who passes sharply in front of the goal from the left – but nobody is there. That would have been 2-0!
17.
6:19 p.m
Al Owais! Mikel Oyarzabal tries it from near the penalty area in a half-left position, but the desert state keeper is there and parries the shot into the left corner.
15.
6:17 p.m
This could be a very long game for the Green Falcons because they won’t be able to relieve themselves at all. The Spaniards show completely different body language today and continue to put pressure on them.
13.
6:15 p.m
There was more inside! It becomes dangerous again via Lamine Yamal, his shot is deflected by Mohammed Al Owais into the penalty area on the left, where Mikel Oyarzabal leaves it for Álex Baena – and his shot flies well over the box.
10.
18:12
Tooor for Spain, 1-0 by Lamine Yamal
The favorite is leading and relief is spreading! And of course it is Lamine Yamal who slots in from close range after a well-played attack and a great pass from Mikel Oyarzabal at the right post.
9.
6:10 p.m
The next corner of La Roja lands at Dani Olmo, but the ex-Leipziger takes his shot from the second row towards the sky.
7.
6:08 p.m
The Saudis counterattacked, but then Salem Al Dawsari’s goal was over just before the penalty area and Spain defused the danger.
5.
6:07 p.m
The favorite wants to score the first goal as early as possible, but Porro’s flat pass from the center right into the box only finds the opponent.
4.
6:06 p.m
Yamal moves from the right to the middle and tries from a distance – but since he is slightly on his back, the ball goes well over Al Owais’ box.
2.
6:03 p.m
The Spaniards put pressure right from the start, the ball comes to Baena on the flanks, who takes a corner – but it doesn’t result in anything.
1.
6:01 p.m
Game start
17:52
The Brazilian Raphael Claus will referee the game and will be assisted by his assistants Danilo Manis and Rodrigo Figueiredo.
5:44 p.m
The Saudis around Uruguay goalscorer Al-Amri have made two changes after the successful start, Ali Lajami and Nasser Al Dawsari start for Mohammed Kanno and Mohammed Abu Al Shamat.
5:33 p.m
The World Cup also started with a draw for Saudi Arabia, the Green Falcons played 1-1 against the favored Uruguayans. The goalkeepers were also in the foreground here, goalkeeper Al-Owais saved his team from defeat after countless headers from Uruguay – Spain should therefore have been warned. Almost all of the players in coach Georgios Donis’ squad play at home, with Al Nassr and Al Hilal in particular having many players. With Saud Abdulhamid, at least one player plays in Ligue 1; the RC Lens defender made 25 appearances last season and even finished runner-up with his team.
5:19 p.m
After the bitter disappointment at the start of the World Cup, La Furia Roja is under a lot of pressure because the co-favorites for the title couldn’t manage a 0-0 draw against the big outsiders Cape Verde at the start. Luis de la Fuente’s men failed far too often, especially because of keeper Vózinha, and for most of the first half they were far too lacking in ideas. Cape Verde rewarded themselves for a self-sacrificing game with the draw and caused emotional scenes after the final whistle. Today the Selection has to make amends because they want to get as far as possible in this tournament – and the squad, which is full of top stars, actually shows that.
5:10 p.m
Is it enough or not enough at Lamine Yamal? A lot has revolved around this question for the Spaniards in the last few days. The fans can now breathe a sigh of relief because the superstar appears to have completely recovered from his torn muscle and is in the starting line-up today. In addition to Yamal, who replaces Ferran Torres, de la Fuente changes his team in three other positions: Dani Olmo and Álex Baena push Fabián Ruiz and Gavi to the bench, and Pedro Porro can start instead of Marcos Llorente.
5:00 p.m
In Group H, Spain and Saudi Arabia open the second group match day, before Uruguay and Cape Verde follow at midnight. The group couldn’t be more balanced so far, with all teams having one point each. That’s why we’re looking forward to the games with excitement – who will secure the top spot in the table and therefore a perfect chance of progressing? The Spaniards, who are considered co-favorites for the title, are under pressure today after the mistake against Cape Verde. The ball starts rolling in Atlanta from 6 p.m.
Hello and welcome to the second appearance of the favorite from Spain. After the great disappointment caused by the goalless game against Cape Verde, the Iberians are also highly favorites against Saudi Arabia and anything other than a clear win for Pedri & Co. would be another big surprise.
