06/21/26 02:06:00
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06/21 14:05 CDT Lamine Yamal scores 10 minutes into his first World Cup start
and gives Spain liftoff
Lamine Yamal scores 10 minutes into his first World Cup start and gives Spain
liftoff
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- Welcome to the World Cup, Lamine Yamal. Welcome to the World
Cup, Spain.
Teenage superstar Yamal scored 10 minutes into his first start on soccer's
biggest stage and Spain kickstarted its campaign with the 4-0 demolition of
Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday.
The 18-year-old forward slid in at the far post to touch home a low cross for
the opening goal and became the eighth-youngest scorer in World Cup history.
More importantly, he settled Spanish nerves after the European champion was
held to a surprise 0-0 draw by Cape Verde in its opening game.
"The first game wasn't really us, it was different, but now we've arrived and
we're going for more," Yamal said.
In a tournament that has already seen Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling
Haaland and Harry Kane get off to flying starts, Yamal's strike saw him join
the party.
"I've always dreamed of being at a World Cup, and being able to score in my
first match as a starter is a dream," he said. "I watched the last World Cup
from a classroom so being able to score here with my mum and my family in the
stands is a dream come true."
The Barcelona winger is already considered one the world's top players and
helped Spain win the European Championship in 2024 despite being just 16 years
old when the tournament started. He is tipped to take over from Messi and
Cristiano Ronaldo as the sport's biggest star but came into the World Cup with
questions over his fitness after he missed the end of the season with a
hamstring injury.
Yamal, who was only used as a second-half substitute against Cape Verde, was
thrown in from the start against Saudi Arabia and wasted no time in making his
presence felt.
He had already repeatedly sliced through the Saudi defense before turning home
Mikel Oyarzabal's cross.
A full house at Atlanta Stadium that was mainly filled with Spain fans erupted
in celebration just at the sight of Yamal emerging for the pre-game warm up.
And the cheers were even louder as he raced away to celebrate his goal,
dropping to his knees, praying and kissing the turf.
It was just the impact Spain coach Luis de la Fuente wanted from his star
player, having been inundated with questions about when Yamal would be ready to
start.
Those questions felt even more anxious after Spain, one of the pre-tournament
favorites, was shut out by Cape Verde.
After all, Spain has failed to advance beyond the round of 16 since lifting the
World Cup in 2010, winning just three games during that run.
But Yamal's opener sparked a flurry of first-half goals. Oyarzabal, who was
criticized for not touching the ball at all in the first 30 minutes against
Cape Verde, not only provided the assist for Yamal, but scored two more with
close range strikes in the 21st and 24th.
So dominant was Spain's lead that De la Fuente had seen enough and took both
his scorers off at halftime.
Inside four minutes of the second half, the lead was extended when Marc
Cucurella's shot rebounded off Hassan Altambakti for an own goal.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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