Lamine Yamal said the World Cup starts now after Spain bested Austria comprehensively by 3-0 at the Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday. Mikel Oyarzabal scored a brace for Spain, whereas Pedro Porro also found the back of the net in the 66th minute.

Oyarzabal scored the opener in the 36th minute to put Spain in front. The forward was able to put the game to bed as he scored his second of the game in the 89th minute.

Spain will next take on Portugal in the round of 16 and it is expected to be a crunch game between the two European powerhouses.

“The World Cup starts now,” Yamal told journalists afterward. “If you lose, you go home [in the knockout phase]. And we don’t want that. None of us want that.”

Yamal, 18, played for 85 minutes against Austria, which is his longest participation in a World Cup game thus far after regaining his match fitness after injury. The youngster had a golden opportunity to score a goal but he was denied by the Austrian goalkeeper.

“I’m good. Now I’m 100%,” he said. “I’m ready to play whatever the boss wants. I need to keep resting and looking after myself, but I’m 100%.” Yamal had six shots — four of them on target — and created two chances against Austria, as well as recovering possession five times.

“We all wanted to go to Dallas and play the last 16,” he said. “Little by little, I’m feeling like myself again, making the runs I need to, dribbling, and I’m very happy.”

Spain will face Portugal in the round of 16 in Dallas on Monday.