Spain secured their spot in the round of 16, ending a 16-year drought without a knockout stage victory in major tournaments. They defeated Austria 3-0 in a dominant performance, finally breaking a streak of three consecutive World Cup failures. The victory marks their first win in a major tournament knockout round since winning the World Cup in 2006. According to SVT Sport’s expert Bojan Djordjic, Spain completely outplayed Austria, describing the match as "a cat and mouse game." This win signals a potential resurgence for the Spanish national team after a period of underperformance on the international stage. The decisive result provides a boost of confidence as they move forward in the competition.