After Spain changed, tempted and cut the Austrian media to the right parts on Thursday night, it was difficult to spend too much focus on the fact that Unai Simon set the record of the World Cup in one night. The 520 minutes that he did not play is a record for a goalkeeper in the past 96 years, surpassing Walter Zenga from Italy by just two minutes, which is the number in the headlines after Spain ended 16 years of winning with a knockout in the World Cup since the 2010 final, equaling Italy and Switzerland playing five games without playing five games.
The reason why it’s so hard to pay attention to Simon’s record, is that he didn’t actually do anything to achieve it. In La Roja’s four matches so far, he has faced six shots on target, none of them taxing. One of the two teams yet to give up on Mexico, when Sasa Kalajdzic’s flying ball hit the bar a few minutes into the second half, it was crucial. So far, it was the only real chance from open play that Spain conceded.
Understandably, the main focus of Spain’s struggle is to find the rhythm, tempo and innovation that has been seen in the team since Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal made their Euro 2024. Maybe it was the result of using the ball in a good way, knowing that the game of open spaces does not benefit Lasca Roja, but the best truth is not ahead. Fuente’s assets have been defensive since he arrived on the job.
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— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 2, 2026
For the opposition, the sense of vulnerability, that keeping Spain quiet was more important because the goal was within reach, has vanished. According to Opta, the only area of the pitch where opponents have more than 55% contact with the ball is in their own box. Despite being more than 68% available, Rodri is ranked 9thth for tackles (13), Aymeric Laporte has made the fourth most combined encounters (9) and is the fifth in successful aerial duels (14). No team starts to press as often as Spain, and their maximum tally of 43 leads the competition. Only Germany (7.6) beats Spain (8.1) in terms of passes per defensive game, but they have conceded 3.25 goals in their four games, compared to the meager 0.4 Simon needed to win.
The sharp criticism of Rodri Hernandez so far has been justified, because his use of the ball so far has been poor. Pedri Gonzalez also looked bored instead of apathetic, but if anything was working, it was stressing them out. Seeing Pau Cubarsi and Laporte go back to collect the ball in front of a tired striker has become a common thing. What was in theory the weakest link in their chain has now become the most reliable. For the first time against Austria, La Roja looked to regain their identity with the ball, but the honest attitude and defensiveness of their attacking players gave them time to do so.
“It’s very difficult to play against Spain, they didn’t make a single mistake,” said Austrian manager Ralf Rangnick after the match. “They are so beautiful, like watches, it is impossible to compete with them in intelligence.” All this without mentioning Marc Cucurella, who stands out more for his attacking forward than his defensive work. In context, Zenga set that record after a 1990 Italy defense that included Alessandro Costacurta, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, who played very little as well.
Accordingly, the student complains that Spain will face a team that could cause fear after any of the contenders for the World Cup. Next on the menu is Portugal. Should Cubarsi and company gobble up after devouring another attack, it cannot be denied that many of the Spaniards are accompanied by the best defense in the tournament.
