When Mikel Oyarzabal came off the bench to sweep home the winning goal for Spain against England in the final of Euro 2024, it was the ending. But maybe it was also the beginning for a new-look team that could follow it up at this summer’s World Cup.Alvaro Morata was Spain’s captain in Germany two years ago but finds himself out of the squad after failing to score a single goal for Como in Serie A this past season. Oyarzabal has seized his chance, scoring 13 goals in his 16 caps since that evening in Berlin.
A one-time winger at Real Sociedad, the 29-year-old forward has been reimagined in a central role and there are those who believe he could be one of the stars of the World Cup. “Oyarzabal will surprise a lot of people,” Gaizka Mendieta tells Sky Sports.
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Oyarzabal celebrates his winning goal against England in the final of Euro 2024
Mendieta, who played for Spain at the 2002 World Cup, knows that the eyes of the world will be elsewhere. “People will be thinking about Lamine Yamal, all the Barca guys. But Oyarzabal just won the cup with Real Sociedad and has improved his game a lot.”Remarkably, he already ranks among the all-time top 10 goalscorers for the Spain men’s national team, leapfrogging Alfredo Di Stefano with a brace against Serbia in March. His strike rate for Spain is better than Emiliano Butragueno, Raul and Fernando Torres.
“He used to play more in the wider areas,” explains Mendieta. “Now he is playing more centrally and he is scoring goals in key games. The work ethic that he has is unbelievable. He is not a big name among the fans but I think he is a fantastic player.”
Fabian another unsung heroWith Lamine Yamal in the squad, it is no wonder that the attention is elsewhere. Barcelona’s boy wonder will turn 19 during the tournament and with former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri also in the squad, Spain are favourites to win the World Cup for a reason.
But what really elevates them is the growing realisation that the once unsung heroes are also world class. As well as Oyarzabal, Fabian Ruiz is another who has stepped into the limelight by winning the Champions League back-to-back with Paris Saint-Germain.Fabian arguably outshone Rodri at Euro 2024, despite the Manchester City midfielder being named player of the tournament. Since his success with PSG, this late bloomer is finally getting the credit that he deserves. “I love…
2026-06-14 10:00:00
