Rangnick Lauds Spain as Potential Future World Champions
Rangnick's Praise for Spain's Performance
Austria's head coach, Ralf Rangnick, expressed his belief that Spain has a strong chance of clinching the FIFA World Cup 2026 title. He referred to the reigning European champions as the toughest opponent his team has encountered in the tournament thus far. Following Austria's loss to Spain in the Round of 32 on Thursday, Rangnick commended Luis de la Fuente's squad for delivering their finest performance of the competition, as reported by a French news outlet. He stated, "Spain undoubtedly showcased their best form today. I might be taking a risk by saying this, but I wouldn't be surprised if we faced not just the current European champions, but also the future world champions. If they maintain this level of play, defeating Spain will be extremely challenging."
Austria Coach Acknowledges Team's Efforts
Despite the setback, Rangnick felt his team remained competitive until Spain scored their second goal. He praised his players for their resilience in the face of numerous challenges. "Until their second goal, we were still in contention. With a bit of luck, we could have even aimed for an equalizer. The team once again showed solidarity, despite facing several hurdles, including Christoph Baumgartner's withdrawal, Phillipp Mwene's injury, and Stefan Posch's broken jaw," he remarked.
Spain's Impressive 3-0 Win
Spain delivered a commanding performance, defeating Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This victory marked their first knockout win in regular or extra time since their 2010 title win, ending a 16-year wait. Mikel Oyarzabal shone with two goals, while Pedro Porro netted his first international goal, securing Spain's advancement to the Round of 16.
Marc Cucurella contributed with two assists, and Spain maintained an impressive defensive record, achieving their fourth consecutive clean sheet without conceding a goal in the tournament.
Austria struggled to handle Spain's relentless offensive pressure, despite goalkeeper Alexander Schlager making several key saves. Spain dominated possession, and the young duo of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi made history as the first Under-20 pair to start a World Cup knockout match for a single nation since Brazil's Pele and Jose Altafini in 1958.
This victory propels the reigning European champions into a Round of 16 matchup against Portugal, while Austria's journey concludes after reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 1954.