Spain Dominates Saudi Arabia in Dominant 4-0 Victory

It's an assured, dominant display from Spain, and a much-needed response after that disappointing draw with Cabo Verde.

La Roja was a class above the Green Falcons all afternoon in Atlanta, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Lamine Yamal combining to wreak absolute havoc before half time.

Yamal opened the scoring before Oyarzabal netted a quickfire double before the first hydration break.

The pair didn't return for the second half, and Spain was slightly subdued in their absence, with a Hassan Al-Tambakti own goal the only addition to the scorecard after the break.

A big step forward for Spain, who are now all-but guaranteed of a berth in the knockout stages.

Pedro Porro, so lively all afternoon down the right, works in a lovely ball across the six yard box and Ferran Torres is on hand for a tap in.

The offside flag stays down, but it looks very, very tight.

We wait on the verdict of a VAR review.

It's a really long break in play.

The replays, to me anyway, suggest Torres had just strayed.

And yep, after what felt like about half an hour, the referee confirms that the goal won't stand.

It remains 4-0.

There's a break in play as Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Kanno and Ala Al-Hajji both receive treatment.

The pair clashed heads as they both rose for a header.

It looked to be a really painful one, and Kanno has to change a slightly bloodstained shirt.

Thankfully, both players are right to continue.

Meanwhile, the Green Falcons make the final chance of the game, with Khalid Al-Ghannam coming on for Nasser Al-Dawsari.

That flurry of substitutions has taken a little of the zip out of this one, with Spain more than happy to knock the ball around midfield and Saudi Arabia camped deep within its own half.

Spanish livewire Nico Williams, who has just entered the game from the substitute's bench, will be eager to impress in the game's final stanza.

Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Kanno has his name taken for a flailing arm on Yeremy Pino, as both managers turn to their substitutes bench.

Dani Olmo, who was very impressive through the middle in his first start of the campaign, makes way, as does Alex Baena.

Arsenal's Mikel Merino and Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams join the fray.

For those of you unfamiliar with Williams's work, get yourselves ready. This man is an excitement machine from wide.

And there's a couple changes for the Green Falcons, with Ala Al-Hajji and Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat both coming on for the final half hour.

And it doesn't take long for Spain to get on the board in the second period.

It's far from the prettiest goal we've seen from the European champions, with the ball being bundled into his own net by Saudi defender Hassan Al-Tambakti.

Marc Cucarella, all alone at the back post, had fired in a solid volley from a corner, the shot had been saved, but the ball cannoned off the helpless Al-Tambakti and into the net.

In disappointing news for the neutral, goalscorers Mikel Oyarzabal and Lamine Yamal don't return for the second half.

Yeremy Pino and Ferran Torress take their places.

With the match all but won, it's an undoubtedly smart move from Spain manager Luis de la Fuente.

But I reckon Oyarzabal might be a little miffed at being denied the opportunity to complete his hat-trick.

A couple changes for Saudi Arabia, as well.

Mohamed Kanno and Abdullah Al-Hamdan join the fray, with Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdullah Al-Khaibari making way.

Well, fair to say that was pretty impressive stuff from La Roja.

Spain provides surely the most complete half of the tournament thus far, with the European champions bouncing back from that shock scoreless draw with Cabo Verde in the most emphatic of fashions.

It was teen sensation Lamine Yamal who opened the scoring on his World Cup starting debut, the superstar ghosting into the penalty area and sliding home at the back post.

Then it was Mikel Oyarzabal, who struck and then struck once more to put his side 3-0 up before quarter time.

Since then, the Green Falcons have done well to stem the bleeding, with Spain continuing to dominate possession and territory, but being unable to add to its tally.

Rodri has a chance from the edge of the penalty area, with the ball pulled back enticingly for the Manchester City man.

However, he can't keep his effort down and the ball flies well over the bar.

We're into five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

It's exhibition stuff from Sapin at the moment.

La Roja is playing some beautiful stuff through midfield, but the latest chance comes from a Saudi mistake.

Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais kicks the ball directly to Mikel Oyarzabal, who tries to dink the ball into the net from the left edge of the penalty area.

It's an audacious, deft effort, and one that almost earns Oyarzabal his hat-trick, with the ball falling onto the crossbar and bouncing out of play.