Mikel Oyarzabal expressed his happiness at scoring two goals and securing the qualification ticket to the World Cup round of 16.
Mikel Oyarzabal
Club: Real Sociedad
Spain
The Spanish national team secured its qualification to the World Cup round of 16, achieving its first knockout stage victory since the 2010 final.
The Spanish national team defeated Austria with three goals to none in the round of 32 of the World Cup.
Mikel Oyarzabal said via FIFA's website: "Happy to help the team and advance a step forward in the World Cup."
He continued, "It was a tough match against Austria, and we knew it would be because they are a physically strong team, and we performed very well today."
The Spanish national team awaits the winner of the Portugal vs. Croatia match in the round of 16.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain before Pedro Porro extended the lead with the second goal, and Oyarzabal concluded the scoring with a third goal.
Since the beginning of the millennium, the Spanish national team has only surpassed the round of 16 twice, first in the 2002 edition after reaching the quarter-finals, and second in 2010 after winning the title.
In the last two editions, the Spanish national team exited the World Cup from the round of 16.
Oyarzabal reached his 22nd goal contribution in the last 14 international matches he played.
Despite failing to score against Cape Verde and Uruguay, Oyarzabal reached 5 goal contributions in the current World Cup edition.
Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón broke the record for the most clean sheets without conceding goals in the World Cup.
Simón reached 519 minutes without conceding goals in the World Cup so far, surpassing the Italian Walter Zenga's record of 517 minutes.
