FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16: Spain focus on free kicks ahead of high-voltage Portugal clash
New Jersey, July 5
The Spanish men's national side carried out some free kick practice ahead of their side's hotly-anticipated round of 16 FIFA World Cup clash against Portugal.
Spain versus Portugal, scheduled for July 7, 12:30 AM, is set to be a clash of generations, with the 41-year-old Portugal icon, club football giant Cristiano Ronaldo, set to encounter the next generation of Spanish football, spearheaded by 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. The 2010 champions, Spain, who have not conceded in any of their FIFA WC 2026 games so far, will face a tough test against Cristiano's men, who are still searching for that perfect all-round game, especially against big sides.
Posting on X, SEFutbol posted, "Of those GOALS and PARADES that are a joy to WATCH and SAVOR. #VamosEspana | #CopaMundialFIFA"
The teenage Yamal also produced a sensational free kick, which crashed into the net.
La Roja continued their impressive march through the tournament with a 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 32, maintaining a flawless defensive record with three goals and another clean sheet. Forward Mikel Oyarzabal netted a brace, while fullback Pedro Porro scored his first international goal to outclass the Austrians.
With this victory, Spain booked their place in the pre-quarters.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon etched his name into FIFA World Cup history after setting a new record for the longest run without conceding a goal, leading La Roja into the last 16.
According to Opta Jose, Simon has now gone 519 consecutive World Cup minutes without conceding, surpassing the previous record of 517 minutes held by Italy's Walter Zenga.
The clean sheet against Austria was his fourth of the tournament and extended Spain's remarkable defensive streak to 595 minutes across five consecutive World Cup matches without letting in a goal.
Spain are yet to concede in the ongoing tournament, underlining their dominance at both ends of the pitch as they registered their first World Cup knockout-stage victory since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Lamine Yamal at 18 years old scoring free kicks in a World Cup knockout stage? That's just unfair talent. Spain's young blood vs. Portugal's old guard – truly a clash of generations. As an Indian football fan, I'm loving how the sport is evolving globally. Hope we see some magic from Yamal! 🇪🇸✨
Spain's defense is incredible but let's be real – they haven't faced a team like Portugal yet. Ronaldo with that hunger for one last World Cup glory, plus Portugal's counter-attacking style could expose Spain. I think Spain will edge it 2-1 but it won't be easy. Free kicks could be the difference maker.
As a neutral Indian fan, this is the match everyone's looking forward to. Spain's tiki-taka possession game vs Portugal's direct approach with Ronaldo – it's like watching two different philosophies of football clash. That free kick by Yamal was Messi-esque! 12:30 AM kick-off means I'll have to sneak some chai and samosas while watching. 😄
Spain's defensive record is statistically insane, but records are meant to be broken. Ronaldo has a habit of showing up when his team needs him most. I'm predicting a tight 1-0 win for Spain – Yamal to score the winner. But honestly, whoever wins this deserves to go all the way. 🏆
While everyone's hyping up Ronaldo vs Yamal, let's not forget Oyarzabal scored a brace
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