Blog

MEXICO CITY, July 5 : Ten-man England weathered a Mexico storm at the Azteca Stadium to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the third straight time with a rip-roaring 3-2 victory over the co-hosts on Sunday thanks to a Jude Bellingham double and Harry Kane penalty.

Thomas Tuchel’s side made it hard for themselves but handed the battling Mexicans their first-ever World Cup defeat at the iconic stadium to set up a last-eight clash with Norway who shocked Brazil 2-1 earlier on Sunday.

Mexico had only lost two competitive games at the Azteca in 89 matches since 1966 but England deserved to make it three.

After the game was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms, Mexico attacked from the start backed by their fanatical support who raised the decibel level even higher than in their earlier matches at their home fortress, but England held firm and managed to take the sting out of the game.

Bellingham put England ahead with a diving header from Bukayo Saka’s fine cross just past the half-hour and made it 2-0 within two minutes after another break down the right with captain Harry Kane providing the centre.

QUINONES LIFELINE

The Mexican crowd responded with chants of “Yes we can” and their players responded when livewire winger Julian Quinones volleyed home inside the box after a scramble following a free kick to get the hosts back into the match.

They got further encouragement after the break when England defender Jarell Quansah was sent off for a rash challenge. The visitors kept their cool, though, and after Anthony Gordon was fouled by the keeper on the hour, Kane calmly scored from the spot.

Just as England looked to enjoy some breathing space, captain Kane gave away a penalty as he tried to clear the ball and after a VAR review the referee pointed to the spot. Raul Jimenez stepped up to make it 3-2 and give Mexico hope again.

With just over 20 minutes to go England had their backs to the wall and had to dig deep to keep the Mexicans at bay. Despite giving up most of the possession, they hung on for a famous victory in the last match of this World Cup in Mexico.

It was England’s first visit to the famous stadium since they lost to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals after Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal and mazy dribble through a hapless defence sank Bobby Robson’s side.

July 6 : Newcastle United have signed Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Sunday.

The clubs did not disclose the transfer fee, but British media said the deal is worth 43 million pounds ($57 million).

“I’m very, very happy to be here. It was my dream since I was young to play in the Premier League for a big team like Newcastle,” Toure said in a statement.

Toure arrives after winger Anthony Gordon left Newcastle for Barcelona in a deal reportedly worth up to 80 million euros ($91.43 million) plus add-ons.

He is Newcastle’s second signing after French goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen joined the club on Wednesday.

Toure, 20, made his senior debut for Ivory Coast in October last year, and made three appearances at the World Cup.

The Ivorians exited in the round of 32 after a 2-1 defeat by Norway.

($1 = 0.7495 pounds)

($1 = 0.8750 euros)

MEXICO CITY, July 6 : Ten-man England weathered a Mexico storm at the Azteca Stadium to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the third straight time with a rip-roaring 3-2 victory over the co-hosts on Sunday thanks to a Jude Bellingham double and Harry Kane penalty.

Thomas Tuchel’s side made it hard for themselves against the co-hosts but handed the battling Mexicans their first-ever World Cup defeat at the iconic venue to set up a last-eight clash with Norway who shocked Brazil 2-1 earlier on Sunday.

Mexico, who beat Ecuador 2-0 in the last 32 for their first knockout-stage win in 40 years, had only lost two competitive games at the Azteca in 89 matches since 1966 but England made it three with a performance of attacking verve and defensive grit.

“It was a crazy game,” Kane said. “We had to fight. We had to find something. I can’t really talk. Yeah, the occasion, the team, everything against us. We found a way.”

After the game was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms, Mexico attacked from the start backed by their fanatical support who raised the decibel level even higher than before but England held firm and managed to take the sting out of the game.

Mexico’s only notable early chance came after 15 minutes when Raul Jimenez’s diving header was brilliantly saved by Jordan Pickford after a pinpoint cross from Roberto Alvarado.

PICKFORD SAVES

Pickford, who was to pull off several key saves, was making his 17th World Cup appearance to equal fellow keeper Peter Shilton as the all-time record holder for England’s men’s team.

Player of the match Bellingham put England ahead with a superb diving header from Bukayo Saka’s cross just past the half-hour and made it 2-0 within two minutes after another break down the right with captain Harry Kane providing the assist.

The Mexican crowd responded with chants of “Yes we can” and their players responded when livewire winger Julian Quinones volleyed home inside the box after a scramble following a free kick to get the hosts back into the match.

Soon after the break England went close to extending their lead when Nico O’Reilly hit the post but they were soon to be down to 10 men when defender Jarell Quansah was sent off for a rash sliding challenge with a high foot on Jesus Gallardo.

The red card was shown by the referee in the 54th minute after a VAR review, leaving Quansah as only the fourth England player ever to be sent off at a World Cup.

The visitors kept their cool, though, and when Anthony Gordon ran through on goal he was fouled by keeper Raul Rangel. Kane calmly scored from the spot on the hour mark.

NO BREATHING SPACE

Just as England looked to enjoy some breathing space, captain Kane gave away a penalty as he tried to clear the ball and after a VAR review the referee pointed to the spot. Raul Jimenez stepped up to make it 3-2 and give Mexico hope again.

With just over 20 minutes to go England had their backs to the wall and had to dig deep to keep the Mexicans at bay. Despite giving up most of the possession, they hung on for a famous victory in the last match of this World Cup in Mexico.

“We needed everything and it was super difficult and always in the moments when we thought we catch the momentum, we had like setbacks, but that’s a proper mentality. Well done,” said Tuchel. “When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more.”

Mexico had not lost a competitive game at home since 2013 but had to say farewell to a tournament they have graced with passion on the pitch, in the stands and across the country. Their fans sang their hearts out until the very end.

“You can’t make mistakes because they punish you,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “We had a couple of errors there, and it saddens me for the people, but my players can be at peace because they did everything they could against a great team.”

It was England’s first visit to the famous stadium since they lost to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals after Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal and mazy dribble through a hapless defence sank Bobby Robson’s side.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Australian coach Tony Popovic has warned his side against getting caught up in the occasion as they chase a first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout win, but added, no matter what “this group’s already made history.”

After making the knockout stage for the third time in their history, the Socceroos will take on Egypt at Dallas Stadium this Friday (Saturday morning, AEST), in a clash in which both they and the Pharaohs will be seeking a first-ever win in the tournament’s knockouts.

On both previous occasions that Australia’s men have progressed from their group, they’ve fallen at the hands of the future champions: suffering a 1-0 defeat against Italy in 2006 and falling 2-1 to Argentina four years ago in Qatar.

However, there’s not an unrealistic hope Down Under that this time, playing a second-placed finisher in an expanded Round of 32 rather than a group winner in a Round of 16 clash, this will be the year in which Australia’s men finally break through for that win. But Popovic, characteristically, refused to look past Egypt.

“We can’t overthink that and be caught up by the occasion,” he said on Thursday. “We have to really stay in the moment. The history gets made after the game. We have to do our part during the match — whether that’s 90 minutes, extra time or penalties — to create that history.

“I’m expecting the game to be even more difficult than what we’ve had so far, because it is a knockout game and with respect to Egypt. But I also feel that we can play better. Tomorrow is a chance to do that. And if we perform very well, we have a chance to make history.”

Both Popovic and Egyptian boss Hossam Hassan will be forced into some difficult decisions on Friday, juggling the possibility of the game going a full 120 minutes (plus penalties) with younger players still developing their physical levels or, as is the case for Pharaohs talisman Mohamed Salah, players carrying knocks.

Popovic said that his side would be ready to respond regardless of whether Salah starts or comes off the bench — Hassan declaring hours earlier he would feature — but, as one might expect from a coach still yet to field the same XI in back-to-back games over a nearly two-year tenure, he welcomed the puzzle that awaited him.

“I think that’s always been the challenge, when you have a young group that doesn’t have the maturity or the experience of playing big games regularly,” he said. “That’s also the exciting part, the exuberance that they bring, the fearlessness that they bring.

“We’re managing all of that, and we have a wonderful group that is together, is united, and they’re all playing their part. I’m confident we can see that again tomorrow, regardless of who plays and the players that come on and make an impact.”

Regardless of what happens in Texas, however, Popovic expressed great pride in reaching the knockouts. The Socceroos’ now-vacated base camp in Berkeley, California, had been decorated with historic photos and jerseys designed to inspire the players and the coach said that, no matter what, this current group would always have a place on his wall.

“We have a lot of respect for Australian football history,” he said. “Especially for the younger players, to understand the pioneers who put Australian football on the map. Those jerseys are reminders for them to remember the photos of past teams that have had success.

“This group’s already made history; the way they performed getting through the group, history has already been made. We have a chance tomorrow to make further history, but this group will already go down in history. And regardless of tomorrow, their photo, the team photo, will proudly be up on any wall and, in particular, it will be on mine.”

TORONTO — In a callback to Euro 2016, when Portugal won its first major trophy without an injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal stayed alive in Ronaldo’s final World Cup with the 41-year-old legend on the bench.

Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia was noteworthy because it was guaranteed to be the last World Cup match for one of two legends — either Ronaldo or Croatia’s 40-year-old Luka Modric — but they were role players in a match that saw countless plot twists and star turns.

Gonçalo Ramos, assuming a spot at the top of Portugal’s attack after Ronaldo’s 81st-minute substitution, scored a header over two Croatia defenders to give Portugal the lead four minutes into stoppage time, but Croatia appeared to have scored the tying goal in the final minute of stoppage time thanks to Josko Gvardiol.

It instead became their third disallowed goal of the evening because of an offside ruling. After Croatia fans rained empty water bottles onto the field in protest, Portugal saw out the victory. They will play Spain in Arlington, Texas, on Monday after the defending European champions thumped Austria 3-0 earlier Thursday.

Portugal and Croatia traded momentum throughout. Croatia tended to establish control after breaks (hydration and halftime), and Portugal slowly ramped up the pressure thereafter.

“We defended well,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said after the match.

“We didn’t allow many chances. At one point, we even had the momentum on our side. We were better for certain periods and created several opportunities. We didn’t deserve a defeat like this in the end. I can only congratulate Portugal. I’m sorry that we’ve been eliminated from this tournament, but that’s football. Sometimes luck isn’t on your side.”

Croatia struck first on a goal by Ivan Perisic in the 53rd minute, but after a Ronaldo goal was disallowed (offside), a disheveled Croatia gave up a corner unprompted, then gave up a penalty when Nikola Vlasic dragged Renato Veiga down in the box. Ronaldo put the penalty in the net, then came off soon after.

Ramos shone in Ronaldo’s absence and it wasn’t the first time. He recorded a hat trick in his first World Cup start, a 6-1 win over Switzerland in 2022, and he has scored a stellar nine goals with two assists in 701 minutes in FIFA and UEFA competitions.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez showed flexibility with his lineup and was rewarded for it. He not only subbed off Ronaldo — something he didn’t do in the group stage — but he also started Rafael Leão for the first time in the tournament.

Leão is an all-or-nothing player, seemingly always the best or worst on the pitch; he forced the issue in the wrong ways at times, losing seven of his eight duel attempts, but he also recorded 10 progressive carries with a total carry distance of 276 meters, the most of any Portugal attacker, and he tied for the team lead in ball recoveries with five, two in the attacking third.

More importantly, he also hit the post after a lovely move in the 58th minute and, of course, served up an absolutely perfect lob in the biggest moment of the match. Portugal’s attack was stolid at times in the group stage, but Leão livened it up considerably.

Both Ronaldo and Modric indeed had roles to play in the match: Ronaldo slotted home his penalty and completed 12 passes in the attacking third; Modric led his team with 66 touches, completed three tackles and sent in a couple of very dangerous corners in the second half.

“Luka played very well,” Dalić said. “Once again, he was one of our most important players. I’m very sorry it ended like this for him. He once again showed his character and his quality. He led Croatia until the very end.”

Said Martinez: “You’re talking about a player that, with the longevity that he has, plays the game like a young man with the capacity to think. [There are] not many times when you speak about the thinking part of the game — everything is about the tactics, the technical aspect, the physical aspect. Not many times do we talk about that player who can put their foot on the ball and make a decision.

“I think Modric is a beautiful example of that. Depending on how the game goes, he finds his pace, and he makes the right call. He inspired millions of kids. He’s an example. He’s going to stay in the football world forever.”

Another veteran, the 37-year-old Perisic, was key to Croatia’s second-half surges as well and became only the sixth player to score in four World Cups, joining Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose, Pelé, and Uwe Seeler.

Still, the end probably came for Modric, Perisic and an entire generation of Croatian soccer. Dalić, too, was noncommittal about his future with the federation, saying, “I have no comment. We’ll talk about that later.” He talked up the up-and-coming generation of younger players, a list that undoubtedly includes 22-year-old Petar Sucic of Internazionale and 23-year-old Martin Baturina of Como, each of whom scored in this World Cup.

For Portugal, meanwhile, the story continues. And their next opponent is a familiar one.

“We know Spain very well, and they know us very well, too,” Martinez said. “I think it’s going to be a fantastic match. Two teams that want the ball, that want to attack, recover possession quickly and create chances. I think it will be a great game.”

Portugal and Spain have met seven times in the past 15 years, and all but one of the matches resulted in a draw or went to a penalty shootout. In their most recent meeting, in the UEFA Nations League final last summer, Spain took the lead twice with goals from Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal, but Portugal quickly equalized both times, first through Nuno Mendes and then through Ronaldo. All four of those players also will be suited up Monday.

Swiss forward Breel Embolo credits Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic with raising up Switzerland’s national team during his seven years at the helm.

Embolo and the Swiss will play against Algeria and their former coach on Thursday in Vancouver, British Columbia, when the two teams meet in the round of 32 at the World Cup.

Petkovic coached Switzerland from July 2014 to 2021. He led the team to the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, then took Switzerland to the quarterfinals of the European Championships for the first time in 2020.

Embolo, who earned his first senior national team call-up in 2015, was named to the 2018 World Cup squad by Petkovic.

“Yeah, he’s a coach that knows me very well,” Embolo said. “I’m not the only one. I think he knows a lot of players. But personally speaking, no, nothing’s going to change on my front. I’m going to play the football I’m used to playing, taking into consideration not only the qualities of the Algerian squad, but also their weak spots. We’re going to work together as a group, and we’re going to try and get in there 100% because we believe that if we play to our strengths, we’ve got what it takes to get through to the next round.

“And then obviously I’ll go and say hi to him after the match.”

The feeling was mutual.

“The world of football has become universal. Everyone knows each other. There are no real secrets left in the game,” Petkovic said. “I don’t think it’s a huge advantage to know someone or someone else, just as I know the players, the players know me, and it’s a huge pleasure to come up against them. It’ll be lovely to meet and greet them, but after that, the players will go out there on the pitch, and I’m certainly expecting a tough game, and in order to win a match, we need to give 120% against a very decent Swiss inside.”

Algeria, back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014, was looking for a first knockout round victory. At the Brazil World Cup, Algeria advanced out of the group stage, but fell in the first match against eventual champions Germany.

Switzerland reached the round of 16 at the past three World Cups, but with a smaller field of 32 teams. This year’s tournament featured 48 teams.

Algeria is coming off a thrilling 3-3 draw with Austria on Saturday in Kansas City. Algeria took the lead in stoppage time only for Austria to answer on the final play of the game for the final margin. The result sent both teams through to the knockout round and eliminated Iran.

The Swiss got goals from Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi to beat Canada 2-1 in Vancouver last Wednesday and win Group B. The Canadians had been hoping for a win or a draw so they would play their round-of-32 match on home soil.

Instead, Switzerland got the return trip to Vancouver. The team got a week off, during which time they returned to their training base in San Diego.

Even Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has a connection to his 62-year-old Bosnian counterpart, serving as an intern under him with the Swiss club Young Boys years ago. Petkovic was hired as Algeria’s coach in February 2024 following a stint with French club Bordeaux.

“I really appreciate the way he works, the way he treats the players, and also the way he lets the players play,” Yakin said. “The players know him, he knows most of the players. It can be an advantage and a disadvantage, but five years have passed since, and our style of football has changed and evolved. He helped the team to qualify for many tournaments, so thanks to him, and I’m very happy to see him tomorrow.”

While he understands that it’s noteworthy that he is coaching against his former team, Petkovic emphasized that he’s not the one playing against the Swiss. It’s his players.

“It’s a match between two teams that certainly play good football. These are two sides that will certainly want to get a result. Switzerland need to, because they have publicly stated that they want to at least make the quarter finals, and we’ve already secured two huge goals, not only by making the World Cup as a whole, but also by getting out of the group as well,” Petkovic said “I’m very keen to be involved in this match, but I’m also very keen to win the game and keep progressing.”

SEOUL, July 3 – South Korea’s exit from the World Cup in the group stage has been followed by the country’s president demanding an investigation, national team coach Hong Myung-bo resigning and fans calling for reform of the Korea Football Association.

Here is why the team’s elimination has rippled into a controversy far beyond the pitch:

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD CUP?

South Korea opened Group A with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic but then lost 1-0 to Mexico and 1-0 to South Africa, finishing third and failing to qualify for the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

The expanded 48-team tournament had raised expectations that South Korea would reach the knockout stage, with local media labelling the squad a “golden generation” headlined by former Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, Paris St Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae.

The South Africa defeat became the flashpoint and Hong was criticised for leaving Son out of the starting lineup, bringing him on at halftime with the score at 0-0. He later said he had planned to use him when South Africa tired, but that he would do things differently had he known how the match would turn out.

WHY IS THE REACTION SO FIERCE?

The anger is not just about three World Cup matches. It was born of frustration over the Korea Football Association’s (KFA) handling of the national team, including the appointment and firing of Juergen Klinsmann, the former Germany striker and Korean national team coach in 2023.

Hong’s appointment in July 2024, after Klinsmann was fired after just a year in the role, was controversial.

Hong is one of South Korea’s most renowned football figures, having captained the team to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals and later coached South Korea to Olympic bronze in 2012.

He was appointed to his first stint as national team manager in 2013 but resigned a year later after his young and promising squad were eliminated in the group phase of the World Cup in Brazil.

After an unsuccessful stint in the Chinese Super League, Hong restored his reputation in the domestic K League, leading Ulsan HD to back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

Amid reports that the KFA wanted him to return, Hong said he did not want to leave Ulsan during the season.

His return as national team coach in 2024 attracted questions from fans, former players and lawmakers, who said the KFA appeared to abandon a months-long search involving foreign candidates before appointing Hong after a brief meeting.

Former national team midfielder Park Joo-ho, who served on the KFA’s search committee, was among the most prominent critics of the search process and uploaded a video on YouTube detailing the story behind Hong’s appointment.

South Korea’s sports ministry said in October 2024 that the KFA breached its own rules in the hirings of both Hong and Klinsmann. It said the KFA technical director’s meeting with Hong was not a proper interview.

The ministry stopped short of ordering the KFA to cancel Hong’s contract, saying it had not found evidence of illegal measures to select him.

WHAT DID THE KFA SAY IN PARLIAMENT?

The controversy prompted a parliamentary committee hearing in September 2024, where KFA President Chung Mong-gyu and Hong were questioned.

The KFA said there had been no major procedural violations. Chung told lawmakers the association could not say it had done everything perfectly but had worked hard and followed regulations.

Hong said he had accepted the role as his “final service” to Korean football and that his mission was to strengthen the team and deliver results at the World Cup.

Faced with the backlash to Hong’s appointment, Chung announced in May he intended to step down after the World Cup.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Prior to the World Cup, South Korean police had already been investigating complaints alleging improper interference in Hong’s appointment, though no criminal findings have yet been announced against Hong or KFA officials.

More complaints have since been lodged.

In April, a court ruled against the KFA in a lawsuit challenging a sports ministry demand for disciplinary action against Chung. The court found flaws in the appointment process for Hong and insufficient board deliberation. The KFA has appealed.

Following South Korea’s exit at the World Cup, President Lee Jae Myung said on June 28 on the X platform that he was “utterly baffled” by the elimination, blaming it on personnel decisions.

He said factionalism or loyalty had been prioritised over competence, and asked the sports ministry to investigate and propose measures to prevent a recurrence.

The ruling Democratic Party is planning a parliamentary hearing next week into the World Cup failure and KFA management, local media has reported. It is also expected to grill the KFA.

The immediate questions are who leads the national team next, whether the government review forces broader reform, and whether the KFA can rebuild public trust before South Korea’s next major tournament.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HONG SINCE THE WORLD CUP EXIT?

Hong resigned shortly after South Korea were eliminated from the World Cup, saying the responsibility rests with him.

Fans booed Hong at the airport when the team arrived in Seoul on June 29, while applauding the players. Some held banners saying: “South Korean football is dead”.

Many fans say their anger is less about the poor results on the pitch than about what they see as a pattern of opaque appointments, weak accountability and football officials protecting their own.

Former players and commentators have said the World Cup failure should force South Korean football to examine how it reached this point.

Hong left for the United States on Thursday and said he did not know when he would return, according to broadcaster MBC. REUTERS

Amanda Anisimova survived an almighty scare against compatriot Sofia Kenin to join a wave of American women marching into the third round of Wimbledon, while Taylor Fritz ensured the Stars and Stripes kept fluttering in the men’s draw.

Twelve months after her 6-0 6-0 humbling by Iga Swiatek in the title clash, Anisimova was on the verge of another painful defeat after being dragged to three sets by former Australian Open champion Kenin but she came through 6-2 4-6 7-6(10-3).

The sixth seed’s reward for a battling victory was a blockbuster showdown with another Grand Slam winner in Madison Keys, with the duo meeting as their country marks the 250th anniversary of its independence.

“I’m really happy with my performance, especially with the end. Shout out to Sofia, she’s such a good opponent and a real fighter … I was down and told myself to keep fighting,” Anisimova said on court.

Fritz had an enjoyable outing in his own all-American clash on Court Two and the 2025 semi-finalist, a genuine contender on grass with his huge serve, advanced with a 6-2 6-2 7-5 victory over Patrick Kypson.

The sixth seed joined US colleagues Marcos Giron and Zachary Svajda in advancing, with Michael Zheng, Tommy Paul and Jenson Brooksby all going through on day three.

Giron, Svajda and Zheng face big tests in the next round when they play French Open champion Alexander Zverev, fifth seed Alex de Minaur and third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime but Brooksby has the unenviable task of trying to topple Jannik Sinner.

Zverev continued his bid for a second straight Grand Slam trophy by beating unseeded Frenchman Valentin Royer 6-1 6-3 7-6(3) while De Minaur dispatched another Frenchman in Adrian Mannarino with a 6-3 6-2 6-2 win.

Victories for Ashlyn Krueger and Emma Navarro meant eight American women advanced to the third round along with Iva Jovic, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Claire Liu.

It was the end of the road for Caty McNally, however, as she ran into a roadblock in the form of 2022 champion Elena Rybakina and went down 6-1 6-2.

Another who went down, was Serena William’s conqueror, Maya Joint.

The Australian lost to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 3-6 6-2 6-0.

Eala will now prepare for defending champion Iga Swiatek, who cleared a potentially dangerous hurdle with ease as she beat former world number one Karolina Pliskova 6-1 6-3.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — This World Cup has belonged to its biggest stars. Spain showed Thursday it didn’t need its biggest star.

With Lamine Yamal largely quiet, Spain relied on crisp passing, patient buildup and a pair of perfect Marc Cucurella setups to coast past Austria 3-0 in a Round of 32 match at SoFi Stadium.

Cucurella picked out Mikel Oyarzabal for Spain’s first goal in the 36th minute, slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the box that Oyarzabal guided into the far corner with his first touch. Pedro Porro added his first international goal in the second half, and Cucurella found Oyarzabal again in the 89th minute to finish off the win.

With the win, Spain advances to face the winner of Portugal and Croatia in the Round of 16, but it all started with a moment of brilliance between Cucurella and Oyarzabal.

“The image of the team is fabulous,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said after the match. “We are not yet satisfied. We are going for more.”

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick agreed, calling Spain “possibly the next world champion” and said his team had faced “an opponent that is in a special class.”

Before the game settled into Spain’s control, SoFi Stadium already had the feel of a La Roja showcase. The announced attendance was 70,492, with Spanish flags and red jerseys taking over the building. Mexico fans also had a strong presence, with green jerseys scattered throughout while Austria fans were few and far between.

After a short feeling-out stretch to begin the game, Spain took over and had the better chances for most of the first half. Austria’s best look came when Michael Gregoritsch just missed getting on the end of a cross in front of goal, but the Austrians finished the half with only two shots and none on target.

Spain thought it had scored around the 30th minute when Cucurella blasted a shot into the net after a corner, but the goal was waved off after Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager was ruled to have been impeded. VAR checked it and the no-goal call stood.

A few minutes later, Schlager kept Austria alive again, pushing a low Oyarzabal shot just wide of the post.

But there was nothing Schlager could do in the 36th minute. Pedri started the move through the middle and got the ball to Cucurella, who picked out Oyarzabal with a perfect ball into the box, and Oyarzabal cleanly swept it into the far corner with his first touch.

It was Oyarzabal’s 16th goal in his last 16 games for Spain. He wasn’t done.

Spain nearly doubled its advantage in first-half stoppage time. Alex Baena curled a free kick off the crossbar, and after Austria failed to clear the rebound, Yamal was denied from close range by another excellent save from Schlager.

Rangnick looked to change the match after halftime, reshuffling his side with a couple substitutions in hopes of finding an equalizer. Instead, Spain struck again.

In the 66th minute, Cucurella worked the ball to Baena on the left, and Baena delivered the unselfish cross into the box. Porro was there to meet it with a powerful header that beat Schlager and doubled Spain’s lead. It was Porro’s first international goal and Baena’s first assist of the World Cup after the midfielder passed up a chance to shoot himself in favor of setting up his teammate.

Spain put the match away in the 89th minute, and once again it was the Cucurella-Oyarzabal connection.

De la Fuente reserved special praise for Cucurella, calling him “like a clock.”

“He always plays well. He always does what he has to do,” the Spain coach said.

Given too much space on the left, Cucurella bent another perfectly weighted ball into the penalty area, where Oyarzabal slid it past Schlager for his second goal. It capped another clinical performance for the Spain forward, who now has 17 goals in his last 16 appearances for the national team.

Spain will face the winner of Thursday night’s Portugal-Croatia Round of 32 match in the Round of 16.

Austria’s tournament ended with little to show offensively. Spain finished with a 2.84-0.32 edge in expected goals, outshot Austria 23-5 and put 10 shots on target. Austria failed to test Unai Simón, finishing without a single shot on goal as Spain recorded another clean sheet, it’s fourth in this World Cup.

Yet even after one of Spain’s most complete performances of the tournament, coach de la Fuente insisted there was another level to reach

“Satisfaction can kill you,” he said. “We have to keep improving.”

Inglewood, California — Spain advanced to the World Cup round of 16 with a dominant 3-0 victory over Austria on Thursday powered by a double from Mikel Oyarzabal and another outstanding defensive effort.

Spain, which arrived at the tournament among the favourites and has yet to concede a goal, will next face Portugal or Croatia for a place in the quarterfinals.

The Spaniards started brightly, with Lamine Yamal repeatedly troubling Austria’s defense as La Roja pressed for an early breakthrough on a sunny day in Southern California.

Spain thought it had gone ahead on a short-range shot by Marc Cucurella, but the effort was ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

The pressure finally paid off when Marc Cucurella whipped a precise cross into the area and Oyarzabal steered it into the bottom corner, igniting the Spain-heavy crowd.

Schlager kept Austria in the match before halftime, producing back-to-back saves from a free kick and the ensuing scramble to ensure his side went into the interval trailing by only one.

Austria’s best opportunity of the second half came when a lovely cross into the box was headed by Sasa Kalajdzic, but the ball landed harmlessly on top of the goal.

Austria, which squeaked into the knockout round with a last-gasp goal to draw with Algeria, struggled to create clear chances against a Spain side that remained composed in possession and disciplined at the back to continue their shutout streak at the tournament.

Pedro Porro added Spain’s second in the 66th minute with a header into the middle of the net in front of a sold-out crowd that included Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Oyarzabal struck again in the 89th minute for his fourth goal of the tournament following a defensive lapse by a visibly frustrated Austrian side.

Spain, World Cup winner in 2010, made an uncertain start to the tournament with a goalless draw against Cape Verde that raised questions about its form.

But it was far more assured against Austria and will take encouragement from the performance of 18-year-old Lamine, who looked to have shaken off the hamstring injury that hampered him earlier in the tournament.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: World Cup: Improving Spain outclasses Austria to ease into last 16