Alaba ready for Spain as Austria step into World Cup knockout stage

Spain await in the round of 32

Thursday is the biggest match of your World Cup. Austria face Spain in the last 32 in California, with a place in the knockout rounds on the line (1) (3) (6). Spain's plan is direct, get the ball to Lamine Yamal, and their midfield has been sharp in training, with Pedri pulling off the kind of touches that make defenders nervous.

No one in the Austria camp is talking like an underdog. Ralf Rangnick has this group drilled and disciplined. The Algeria draw in the group stage showed they can trade blows. Spain are favourites, but this is a single match, not a series.

Alaba: "I have lived many things, but I was missing this"

David Alaba has won it all at club level. A World Cup knockout match? That is new. "He vivido muchas cosas en mi carrera, pero me faltaba esto," Alaba told Marca, I have lived many things in my career, but I was missing this (4).

Your captain is 34 now. He has waited for this stage. Thursday he gets it.

Fabián Ruiz plays down Spain's selection talk

The Spain midfielder kept it simple ahead of the match: "It's not important who plays, it's important we support each other" (2). That is a team backing its depth. It is also a team with options Austria will need to disrupt.

Grimaldo on Cucurella: friendship beyond club lines

Spain left-back Álex Grimaldo spoke about his bond with Marc Cucurella despite their club rivalry (7). A small note, but it underlines the unity in that Spain camp. Austria will have to break more than just a back four.

Thierno Ballo linked with Saint-Étienne

Away from the World Cup, Wolfsberger AC winger Thierno Ballo is on Saint-Étienne's radar. ASSE see the 22-year-old Austrian as a potential replacement for Zuriko Davitashvili, though Millwall are also watching (5).