Are Spain worthy World Cup favourites? Mikel Oyarzabal and Fabian Ruiz among the unsung heroes supporting Lamine Yamal | Football news

When Mikel Oyarzabal came off the bench to score the winning goal for Spain against England in the Euro 2024 final, it was the end. But perhaps it was the start of a new-look team that could follow them to the World Cup this summer.

Alvaro Morata captained Spain in Germany two years ago but finds himself out of the squad after failing to score a single goal for Como in Serie A last season. Oyarzabal made the most of his opportunity, scoring 13 goals in his 16 games since that night in Berlin.

A former winger for Real Sociedad, this 29-year-old player has once again been considered an important part and there are those who believe that he can be one of the stars of the World Cup. “Oyarzabal will surprise a lot of people,” said Gaizka Mendieta Sky Sports.

Mendieta, who played for Spain in the World Cup in 2002, knows that the eyes of the world will be elsewhere. “People will be thinking about Lamine Yamal, all the Barca boys. But Oyarzabal has just won the cup with Real Sociedad and has improved his game a lot.”

Incredibly, he is already among the top 10 goalscorers for the Spanish men’s national team, leapfrogging Alfredo Di Stefano’s goal against Serbia in March. His strike rate in Spain is better than Emiliano Butragueno, Raul and Fernando Torres.

“He played a lot in wide areas,” explained Mendieta. “Now he’s playing in the middle and scoring goals in the most important games. The work he’s done is unbelievable. He’s not a big name for the fans but I think he’s a good player.”

Fabian is another unsung hero

With Lamine Yamal in the group, it’s no surprise that the attention is elsewhere. The Barcelona boy will turn 19 in this tournament and with former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri also in the squad, Spain are favorites to win the World Cup for a reason.

But what lifts them up the most is the growing awareness that unsung heroes are also world class. Along with Oyarzabal, Fabian Ruiz is another who came into the limelight by winning back-to-back Champions Leagues with Paris Saint-Germain.

Fabian arguably outscored Rodri at Euro 2024, although the Manchester City midfielder was named player of the tournament. Since his success at PSG, the late superstar is finally getting the credit he deserves. “I love everything about him,” Mendieta said.

“For a person of his height, because he is a big man, he also changes. The image that comes to my mind when I am with him is that he finds himself surrounded by players and he just turns and walks away. He is very fast for someone his age.

“He can score goals, play in different positions. He can play in the middle of the field or play as a No 10. He is an amazing player. Unfortunately for him, competing in the middle of the field is difficult but now his time has come and he is showing his worth.”

‘He’s full of confidence’

The midfield trio of Fabian, Rodri and Pedri are classy and mean Luis de la Fuente has enough tactical flexibility to trouble the best opponents. With Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal on the wings, Oyarzabal is unlikely to be out of work this summer.

Spain are unbeaten in their last 31 games – a penalty shoot-out loss to Portugal in last year’s Nations League final doesn’t hurt that record. “They have been consistent in performance and results,” Mendieta said.

He talks about a team that “has a lot of confidence in the way they play, the way they do things” and a team that includes “very young players but with character”. “If there is a crack somewhere, the teams will reveal it. But they are a strong team.”

Will Spain be at the top?

Doubts about Spain are caused by the fear that the team may not arrive at this World Cup in a satisfactory condition. Rodri, who has become an important player in midfield, had a first season with City. Fabian himself is now feeling his way back to full fitness.

Lamine Yamal had an injury scare at the end of the season with Barcelona, ​​while Williams has missed more games than he has played this year at Athletic Club. Part of the group. Half of the team comes to this with little concern around them.

“If we are at a high level and we get players at the level they should be, it means that it is a balanced team,” said Mendieta. “But you can get hurt.” The good news for Spain is that there is no doubt that there is depth in the squad which gives De La Fuente options.

There is a Barcelona trio of Dani Olmo, Gavi and Ferran Torres who could enter. Arsenal duo Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino could also contribute. The lesson of Oyarzabal’s intervention at Euro 2024 is that Spain always have someone ready to step up.