Lamine Yamal was the story before kick-off and is dominating conversation long after the final whistle too. The 18-year-old returned to the World Cup hoping to start his first match, having been limited to just 19 minutes in Spain's shock goalless draw with Cape Verde. Luis de la Fuente insisted that cameo was part of a longer-term plan, with Yamal still carefully managing his recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered in April.
Fit enough to start against Saudi Arabia, Yamal's impact was immediate. Even before his first touch, the impact he had on the atmosphere was remarkable. Thousands of fans wore his name across their backs. Every time his face appeared on the big screen, the stadium roared. Spain's young star had not yet touched the ball, but already lifted the occasion.
When he did, he transformed the first half of the match. Spain had promised greater intent, to play with boldness, pace and fearlessness. They delivered that in a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia, with Yamal at the centre of it all. Where their previous outing lacked urgency, this performance was vibrant, direct and full of conviction.