New Delhi, July 3 -- LOS ANGELES - Mikel Oyarzabal had scored in all thirteen of his previous international appearances for Spain. None of them landed in a moment quite like this one.

"The World Cup starts now."

Spain beat Austria 3-0 Thursday at SoFi Stadium, and the scoreline barely captures the texture of the evening. Austria managed five shots and placed none of them on target. Spain produced twenty-three, with ten threatening the goal. Spain controlled sixty-five percent of the ball, and even that number tells only part of the story: before Austria could establish their defensive shape, Spain had already moved through it.

Marc Cucurella opened the account in the first half, though not in the way he intended. His first contribution...