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Spain hit four past Saudi

GCC Sport
Spain hit four past Saudi

By Dr. Talal Osman

The Saudi national team suffered a heavy 0–4 defeat to Spain in the second round of Group H at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a match that exposed the technical and physical gap between the two sides and placed the “Green Falcons” in a complicated position ahead of the final group match.

First Half — Relentless Spanish Pressure and an Early Saudi Collapse

Spain started the match at a high tempo, applying intense attacking pressure on the Saudi defense, which resulted in clear disorganization in positioning and dealing with crosses.

Spain scored three goals in just 24 minutes:

  • Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a cross from Oyarzabal.

  • Mikel Oyarzabal doubled the lead in the 21st minute, capitalizing on defensive confusion following a corner kick.

  • The same player returned to score the third goal in the 24th minute after another coverage error.

Saudi Arabia failed to register a single shot on target against Unai Simón throughout the first half, reflecting the team’s attacking impotence and inability to build play under pressure.

Second Half — A Fourth Goal and Total Spanish Control

Spain entered the second half with the same intensity and scored the fourth goal in the 49th minute:

  • A powerful shot from Marc Cucurella was saved by goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais

  • The rebound struck defender Hassan Al-Tambakti and rolled into the net for an own goal

Spain thought they had added a fifth goal through Ferran Torres in stoppage time, but it was ruled out for offside.

What Does This Loss Mean?

  • Saudi Arabia remains on one point

  • Spain climbs to four points, topping Group H

  • The fate of the “Green Falcons” now depends on the result of Uruguay vs Cape Verde

  • Defensive and offensive performance raises major concerns ahead of the final match

Quick Analysis — Why Did Saudi Arabia Lose?

  • Relentless Spanish pressure that unsettled the Saudi defense from the start

  • Individual and collective defensive errors in positioning and marking

  • Lack of attacking solutions and inability to build meaningful plays

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