Six days ago Spain sleepwalked to humiliation in Atlanta when they failed to breach the defense of the world’s 67th-ranked team in a stalemate which sent shockwaves across the globe.Almost a week later, they proved their World Cup stage fright against Cape Verde was nothing more than a blip by dismantling Saudi Arabia at the very same stadium.With teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in from the start this time, the European champions were quickly back to their smooth, swaggering best against a sorry Saudi defense which, on a contrasting note, provided a far more calamitous highlight reel as they slumped to a 4-0 defeat. It could and should have been more.Yamal first ensured there would not be another drab goalless draw here when he swept home from Mikel Oyarzabal’s cross inside the 11th minute to get himself and Spain off the mark with his first World Cup goal. Then came the first of many shambolic Saudi errors which allowed Oyarzabal to poke home from close range.The Real Sociedad striker put the game to bed two minutes later when Dani Olmo’s header found him in acres of space at the back post, before Marc Cucurella added the fourth early in the second half after being left unmarked in the six-yard box. Lamine Yamal got off the mark as Spain eased to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia at the World Cup Mikel Oyarzabal also scored a first-half brace before he and Yamal were taken off at halftimeYamal, who fizzled out towards the end of the first half after a bright opening 30 minutes, was surplus to requirements by that point after being taken off wisely by De la Fuente at the interval with the win in the bag, as was Oyarzabal despite being one goal away from a hat-trick.Saudi were able to stop the rot after Cucurella’s fourth, though Spain were more than happy to play keep-ball for the remaining 50 minutes as they got back to winning ways on a much more comfortable afternoon in Atlanta.Yamal up and runningWe’ve already seen the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane sprinkle their stardust on this World Cup. Today, at long last, it was Yamal’s turn to officially join the party.From as early as the opening minute La Roja’s wonderkid showed what they were missing for the majority of that sluggish display against Cape Verde when he twisted and turned down the right-hand side, outmuscled a Saudi Arabia defender and fired a dangerous ball across goal. It was the exact type of flair and cutting edge De la Fuente was longing for at the start of the week, and after deploying his strongest attacking weapon from the start this time Spain had that from the get go.Then, in the 11th minute, Yamal raised the roof inside Atlanta Stadium when he slid the ball home from Oyarzabal’s cross to bag Spain’s maiden goal of this tournament and his first at a World Cup. There will be plenty more to come, including over the next four weeks.After wheeling away in celebration his attempt at a knee-slide wasn’t as successful, nevertheless, as he briefly stumbled before returning to his feet. De la Fuente’s heart must have been in his mouth.Yet particularly in the opening half hour, the Barcelona talisman looked sharp on the right flank, with his speed and trickery causing Saudi’s backline all sorts of problems. He is the kind of breathtaking talent, the kind of once-in-a-generation talent, that leaves you on the edge of your seat whenever he gets the ball in anticipation of the magic that could follow. Yamal finally arrived at the tournament after sliding in La Roja’s opener in the 11th minute The Barcelona wonderkid scored his first goal at a World Cup to get his country up and runningUnfortunately for the Spanish contingent, his first start only lasted 45 minutes. With his side cruising at 3-0 De la Fuente opted to protect his star man and take him off at the interval, a no-brainer in light of his recent muscle problem.This was just a taster, but Lamine Yamal has finally arrived at the World Cup.The Saudis are no Cape Verde While Saudi weathered the storm more effectively after the break, for all of Spain’s quality they were largely helped by some truly shambolic defending at Atlanta Stadium.After being cut apart far too easily for Yamal’s opener, in the 21st minute Oyarzabal was gifted his first of the day in comical fashion when Firas Al-Buraikan tried to chest a scuffed Olmo shot, sparking scenes reminiscent of a pinball game in the area before the ball worked its way to Oyarzabal, who was left to tap in one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score.Just two minutes later, Saudi manager Georgios Donis – the ex-Blackburn player who took charge at the end of April and picked his World Cup squad having not officially overseen a game – had his head in his hands once more when Cucurella teed up Olmo near the penalty spot, whose header to the back post allowed Oyarzabal to bundle in his second and Spain’s third.Very much resembling a team in their second competitive game under a new coach, the Saudi defense were like statues once again, simply far too passive in their attempt to keep La Roja out. And that continued when Cucurella was left totally unmarked from a corner to sweep in the fourth just after the break. Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais got a hand to it but should have done better.Cape Verde provided the blueprint on how to keep Spain’s pass masters out here six days ago. It’s fair to say Saudi Arabia weren’t privy to copies of it. Saudi Arabia didn’t read the Cape Verde blueprint in what was a sorry defensive display Marc Cucurella was left completely unmarked at the back post when he added Spain’s fourth The new Real Madrid man barely celebrated after continuing a one-sided beatdown in AtlantaDon’t sleep on SpainThe Cape Verde stalemate was undoubtedly a cause for concern but Spain banished it from the memory with a much more fluid and ruthless display this time around. If this is anything to go by, that surprising, historic slip-up was either an anomaly or some opening-day nerves. In the first half, Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena was impressive on the left of De la Fuente’s attack, combining well with Cucurella after coming in for Gavi, who was largely anonymous six days ago. Oyarzabal didn’t register a touch in the first half-hour against Cape Verde, the first player to do that in a World Cup match since 1966, but was back to his clinical best here, and Olmo was a constant threat just behind him.Heading into the tournament they were one of the favorites to go all the way and lift the trophy in New Jersey next month. After their opening wobble, this one-sided beatdown reminded us why. Spain are still one of the leading contenders to win this tournament despite their early wobbleThe price isn’t right, againOn the eve of Sunday’s game the cheapest tickets available on resale sites were all listed for upwards of $1,000. It’s almost becoming tiring to point it out, but that astronomical price means it’s no surprise to see so many empty seats at World Cup stadiums this summer.That was the same again this afternoon at Atlanta Stadium, where FIFA’s blushes were spared somewhat by the fact that the empty red seats were the same color as Spain jerseys, meaning they blended in more than usual.However, unless hundreds of spectators decided to watch the action on TVs down in the concourse, the claim over the speaker that there was a ‘full house’ of 68,239 here can not have been accurate.