There is no room left for Spain to correct their mistakes.

The draw against Cape Verde in their opening match put Spain under more pressure than expected going into their clash with Saudi Arabia. Facing an opponent who had just held Uruguay to a draw, coach Luis de la Fuente's team understood that another slip-up could leave their World Cup fate extremely precarious.

The standings in Group H of the 2026 World Cup .

Spain began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, a result Reuters called a wake-up call for Luis de la Fuente's team. Marc Cucurella also acknowledged that the match was a "wake-up call," because Spain had more possession but lacked sharpness in their final touches.

Spain's problem wasn't their ability to control the ball. They still had enough personnel to dictate the tempo, circulate the ball, and push opponents back into their own half. But against a deep-lying defense, La Roja lacked speed on the flanks and the kind of incisive plays needed to break down Cape Verde's defensive block.

Group H is proving very unpredictable, with all four teams drawing their first matches.

After the first round, Group H became much more unpredictable. Spain drew 0-0 with Cape Verde, while Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 with Uruguay. This left all four teams tied with one point. For Spain, the match against Saudi Arabia was therefore no longer a game to be reckoned with; it was almost a mandatory test to pass.

The strongest lineup and the pressure to win.

The biggest difference compared to the Cape Verde match is that Spain will likely field their strongest lineup. International media outlets have highlighted the significant return of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams for La Roja. Coach De la Fuente also praised Yamal, asserting that the young player is ready to start against Saudi Arabia.

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Yamal is almost certain to be in the starting lineup tonight. Photo: AP

This is a crucial detail because Spain needs more than just horizontal passes. They need players capable of winning one-on-one situations, stretching the defense, and creating space for the midfield. Yamal and Nico Williams, if they both play, could provide what Spain lacked most against Cape Verde: speed and unpredictability on the flanks.

Saudi Arabia understood this very well. Coach Georgios Donis admitted that the West Asian team's chances of causing an upset would be greater if Yamal and Williams were absent or not in their best form. In other words, even before the match, Saudi Arabia had identified Spain's flanks as the areas that could decide the outcome of the game.

Saudi Arabia is unlikely to spring a surprise against a Spain team fielding their strongest lineup. Photo: AP

So, how likely is Saudi Arabia to cause a shock?

The Asian representatives had already earned points against Uruguay, had experience causing upsets at the World Cup, and entered this match with a lighter mindset than Spain.

Spain, after their draw against Cape Verde, will approach this match with a different level of focus. They cannot afford to repeat their sluggish finishing. They also have little reason to continue experimenting, with their final match against Uruguay looming.

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The most logical scenario is Spain controlling possession, Saudi Arabia defending deep and waiting for counter-attacks. If La Roja scores early, the game could open up very quickly. But if Saudi Arabia manages to hold on 0-0 for most of the match, the psychological pressure will return to the European team.

Nevertheless, with their strongest lineup and a clear need to win, Spain still have a higher chance of winning. There's no room for error, and that could make them far more dangerous than their lackluster opening day performance.

Source: https://danviet.vn/khong-con-cho-cho-tay-ban-nha-sua-sai-d1437034.html