When people talk about Spain at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the first names that usually come to mind are Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri or Rodri. Yet Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in their second Group H match offered another reminder that their status as one of the tournament favourites is also built on a foundation of less high-profile players, whose importance to the team cannot be overstated.
Perhaps the clearest example of this so far has been Mikel Oyarzabal. The striker was directly involved in three of Spain’s four goals inside the opening 24 minutes against the Saudis, scoring twice and providing an assist for Yamal. While his display caught the eye of supporters, it came as no surprise to head coach Luis de la Fuente.
“I don’t know anyone who underestimates him,“ said the Spain coach. “Anyone who understands football values him enormously. For some people, the impact he has may seem small, but here we know just how significant it is. The other day he went nearly 30 minutes without touching the ball, and today he became the first player to score two goals and provide an assist in just 24 minutes. We have to appreciate Mikel. He can build an exceptional legacy in Spanish football.”
Oyarzabal was not the only player to reinforce that point. With 35 successful passes from 38 attempts – an accuracy rate of 92% – Dani Olmo once again demonstrated his ability to find pockets of space between opposition lines, a quality De la Fuente values highly.
“He is one of the best players in the world at operating between the lines. He is incredibly effective in those situations,” the coach said of the midfielder. Alex Baena also earned special praise for his performance. “He gave us plenty of width, but also a lot of play through the middle,“ added De la Fuente. “He has tremendous quality and a fantastic shot. He’s different, but at the same time perfectly suited to our way of playing.”
Another example came in the form of Mikel Merino, who featured in the second half despite not being at peak physical condition. “Mikel is a rock,” De la Fuente said. “He told me he was ready. If the game had unfolded differently, we probably would have needed him even more.”
The list of vital squad players extends to the likes of Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Yeremy Pino. They may not attract the same international headlines as Yamal, but they each fulfil a specific role that helps give Spain balance and cohesion.
Following the comfortable victory over Saudi Arabia, which eased much of the pressure on La Roja, Baena made it clear that those less celebrated figures are fully appreciated within the squad.
“Maybe we don’t receive the same worldwide attention, but any player in the Spain squad would start for any other national team in the world," he said. "We know how good we are, the coaching staff know it too, and that’s what matters most.”
Baena played a key role in Spain’s first two goals, scored by Yamal and Oyarzabal. “I’m always grateful when I can help the team, whatever the situation,“ he added. “I think I played well, but the most important thing is that the team won and can keep moving forward.“
Spain’s World Cup journey continues against Uruguay in their final Group H fixture as they look to secure a place in the knockout stage. The match will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 local time on 26 June.
Sources: FIFA Official
