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Oyarzabal double fires Spain to win over Serbia / Photo: © AFP
Oyarzabal double fires Spain to win over Serbia
Mikel Oyarzabal scored two terrific goals as European champions Spain beat Serbia 3-0 in a friendly on Friday to underline their status as leading title contenders at this year's World Cup.
Real Sociedad forward Oyarzabal, who struck the winner against England in the Euro 2024 final, hammered in Spain's opening goal in Villarreal after a clever move started by Lamine Yamal.
Oyarzabal drilled in his and his team's second goal just before half-time with a crunching drive from 20 metres that flew past Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Osasuna winger Victor Munoz came off the bench to score on his Spain debut and seal a convincing win for Luis de la Fuente's side.
The game was hastily rearranged to replace the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina in Qatar, which was called off after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East.
Spain had been set to face Lionel Messi's Argentina in Doha but because of the war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28 against Iran, organisers looked for a new location or date.
UEFA said Argentina had not accepted any of the various alternative proposals offered, leading to the cancellation of the match.
The Finalissima, played since 2022, pits the Copa America champions against the winners of the European Championship.
Spain are now due to face Egypt in Barcelona on March 31. The fixture was also relocated from Qatar and pushed back a day.
F. Burkhard--BTZ
