The kid gets the headlines. Lamine Yamal, all 17 years of him, glides past defenders like they're training cones. He's the future, the story, the box office. But futures don't win World Cups. Squads do. And that's where Mikel Oyarzabal comes in.
Former Spain captain Cesar Azpilicueta, speaking ahead of the knockout rounds, made a point that cuts through the noise: Spain are more than just Yamal. They're a team built for the slog, the grind, the moments when magic wilts under pressure. Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad captain, is the embodiment of that.
Oyarzabal isn't flashy. He doesn't have a dribble reel that breaks social media. What he has is a football brain that processes space and time faster than most. Against teams that sit deep, he finds pockets. When the press needs to start, he's the trigger. He's the sort of player who wins you a tournament without ever being named Man of the Match.
The quiet assassin
Luis de la Fuente's Spain have been labelled 'possession with purpose' — a phrase that makes me wince. But it's true. They keep the ball not to bore you, but to dissect you. Oyarzabal is the scalpel. His movement off the ball creates chaos. Defenders hate marking him because he doesn't stay still. He drifts, checks, spins. He's a migraine in cleats.
In the group stage, Spain scored nine goals. Yamal got two. Oyarzabal got one, but his assist numbers — three — tell a truer story. He's the connector. The guy who makes the final pass before the final pass. Without him, Yamal's runs into the box would be passes into empty space.
Azpilicueta knows this because he's played with both. He's seen Oyarzabal in training, in big games, in the moments when lesser players hide. “Mikel is the kind of player every coach wants,” Azpilicueta said. “He does the dirty work, but he also has quality. He makes the team better.”
“Mikel is the kind of player every coach wants. He does the dirty work, but he also has quality. He makes the team better.” — Cesar Azpilicueta
Depth over drama
Every World Cup has its teen phenom. Remember Owen in '98? He lit up the tournament, but England didn't win. Football is cruel that way. Individual brilliance gets you highlights; collective solidity gets you the trophy. Spain under de la Fuente have both. Yamal provides the spark. Oyarzabal provides the structure.
But it's not just Oyarzabal. Look at the bench. Pedri, Gavi, Rodri, Olmo. Spain can rotate without dropping a level. That's not luck; that's planning. De la Fuente has built a squad where every player has a role and knows it. There's no ego, no diva behaviour. When Oyarzabal starts, Yamal doesn't sulk. When Yamal starts, Oyarzabal doesn't pout. That's rare. That's winning culture.
Azpilicueta pointed out that Spain's success in the next month depends on maintaining that balance. “We have players who can change the game, but we also have players who can control it. That's the key.”
The real test
Let's not get carried away. Spain haven't played a top-tier side yet. The group stage was a procession. The knockout rounds will be a different beast. France, Brazil, Argentina — those teams have predators who can win a match in a moment. Spain's approach is more methodical, more patient. It works against average teams. Against elite defenses, does it hold up?
That's where Oyarzabal becomes essential. In tight games, you need players who can make a yard of space, who can pick a pass that others don't see. You need players who don't panic when the clock ticks down. Oyarzabal has that calm. He's been to the big moments before — the European Championship, Champions League nights. He doesn't shrink.
Critics will say Spain lack a pure number nine. They don't have a Haaland, a Mbappé, a Kane. They have a collective threat. Oyarzabal, as a false nine or a wide forward, is part of that. He creates as much as he scores. And in a tournament where defenses are organised and space is premium, creators win.
Verdict: Spain are real contenders
Yamal is the story. Oyarzabal is the substance. Spain have both. That's a dangerous combination. If de la Fuente's side can keep their nerve, if they can find Oyarzabal in the pockets, if they can let Yamal be the cherry on top rather than the whole cake, they've got as good a chance as anyone.
The next month will test that theory. But one thing is clear: this Spain team isn't a one-man show. It's a ensemble piece. And Oyarzabal is the lead actor you don't see coming until he's holding the trophy.
Azpilicueta's warning to the rest of the world is simple: don't get caught up in the hype. Spain are deeper than you think. And that depth might just be the difference.
