Spain crushed Serbia 3-0. The match was a frantic, last-minute pivot. The escalating military conflict in the Middle East completely derailed the reigning European champions’ original plan to face Argentina in Qatar. The sudden geopolitical crisis forced the squad back home to the Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal. They showed no signs of distraction. They simply dismantled their overwhelmed replacements.
Mikel Oyarzabal carried the heavy load early. He buried a ruthless first-half brace. Substitute Víctor Muñoz stepped onto the pitch for his senior international debut and scored the final goal in the 72nd minute. The victory was absolute. Spain remains heavily favored heading into the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Oyarzabal struck first in the 16th minute. He struck again in the 44th minute. Serbia had zero answers. Manager Veljko Paunovic is trying to rebuild a broken squad that entirely failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament. It showed on the pitch. The tactical breakdown was heavily documented in the live match data. Spain dominated possession. They dictated the physical terms of the fight.
The knockout punch came late. Ferran Torres unlocked the fractured Serbian defense with a brilliant back-heel assist. Muñoz finished the sequence. The 72nd-minute strike was a perfect capstone for a team firing on all cylinders. This clinical execution puts the rest of the sports world on high alert. Spain heads to Group H to face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. They look completely unstoppable.