Following Spain’s commanding 3-0 victory over Austria in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, goalkeeper Unai Simón shared his thoughts on the impressive result. The keeper emphasized that keeping a clean sheet was a collective achievement involving the entire squad, including the substitutes, and praised his teammates for their extraordinary commitment. Simón acknowledged that the opening phase of the match was challenging due to Austria’s pressure, but the Spanish side managed to turn the tide through the individual brilliance of their leaders and their proactive play on the flanks.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: a clean sheet is the work of all eleven players on the pitch and even all twenty-six who came here. You have to consider how Oyarzabal, Jamal, Baena, and Dani Olmo press—that’s the key to our team’s success. We all work and fight together. The first twenty minutes, until the break, lacked fluidity. Austria applied good pressure, but we wore them down. It helped that we found Lamina and Dani Olmo on the field; that restored our confidence. When you deliver the ball cleanly, our wide players become decisive. And it’s not just the forwards. Pedro Porro scored instinctively, and Cucurella’s passes demonstrate his excellent level,” Simón told AS.
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