FIFA World Cup 2026 | ‘Yamal creates chaos for the opposition’: Mikel Oyarzabal

Spain’s Lamine Yamal during a training session on Wednesday. Pic/AFP

Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal hailed teen star Lamine Yamal as one of the ‘biggest difference makers' in world football ahead of their highly anticipated Group ‘H' clash against Uruguay on Saturday. After only being fit enough to appear as a substitute in Spain's opening game - a shock 0-0 draw against minnows Cape Verde - Yamal started the next game, scoring a goal in their 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia.

"He [Yamal] is one of the players who makes the biggest difference in the world right now," said Oyarzabal, who also scored a brace in their previous match. The forward credited Yamal for creating chaos in the opposition camp. "The chaos he creates for the opposition works in our favour," added Oyarzabal.

Mikel Oyarzabal

Meanwhile, his teammate Aymeric Laporte said that the European champions will have to be wary of an onslaught from Uruguay, who desperately need a win in order to advance to the round of 32.

"It's clear they [Uruguay] are going to go all out, just as we would if we were in their position. That's the standard for a previous winner who aspires to advance past the group stage, but our fate is in our own hands. We know what we have to do, we are highly motivated to finish the group stage successfully and we'll go all out too," centre-back Laporte said.

Spain only need a solitary point to guarantee their progress to the round of 32, though a loss may still be enough, depending on other results across the competition.

Six
No of goal contributions (goals + assists) for Lamine Yamal across nine matches in major tournaments (Euros and World Cup) for Spain

Two
No of times Spain have faced Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup; both games ended in a draw

12
Spain's current unbeaten streak across all competitions

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