All eyes were on curly-haired Lamina Yamal during training at La Masia.
But Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez’s eyes fell on the boyish-looking lean, tall figure. He called a youth coach to his side and told him that the boy should train with the senior team next week. On the training day, when Xavi entered the training ground, he was there and introduced himself with a smile: “Hi, I’m Pao Qubarsi.” Javi was impressed. “He didn’t have the shyness you think when a teenager calls up for his first training session with the senior team,” the manager recalled to Spanish outlet MARCA.
Within months, Xavi had visited the academy, becoming a regular in the Qubarsi senior team. After making his debut in the Copa del Rey game against Unionistas de Salamanca, Xavi told the media: “With Lamine Yamal, he will mark an era.” He was only 16 then, but by Xavi’s assessment he was already a leader.
“He doesn’t look 16 when you talk to him.” The pass-master’s words were not empty. In just three years since debuting under the Child Protection Protocol in 2022, he has become the backbone of the stingiest defense at the World Cup. After five games, Spain have one of the most impenetrable defenses in the tournament.
At 609 minutes, they are yet to see the net. Not only that, they have faced the fewest shots (29), the fewest shots on goal (six) and opponents have averaged just seven touches in their box.
Spain’s Pau Qubarsi, left, controls the ball against Portugal’s Joao Felix during the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain, Monday, July 6, 2026, in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hode)
Spain are perhaps classical Italians in red shirts in disguise – and they defend beautifully and not brutally.
Certainly, in Spain’s midfield, there is the disarming passing of Pedri, the mechanical grace of Rodrigo and the blinding dynamism of Dani Olmo. Or of course, Yamal’s reckless genius. But secretly, the backline has emerged as Spain’s unbreakable shell. Born in Estaniol, a village of just 195 inhabitants in Girona, Cubarci is at the center of determination.
He produced a masterclass in defense against Portugal, involving creative head Bruno Fernandes. Marking Cristiano Ronaldo was stress free. He had a half-second advantage over Portuguese attackers, was always first on the ball, rarely tackled or lunged in the fine tradition of Barcelona’s centre-backs. He entered the game with a vanishingly rare combination of timing, physicality and speed. So much so that his central teammate Aymeric Laporte, who is 13 years his senior, calls him the “leader” of the backline. “In the dressing room, everyone listens to him, like he’s a senior player,” manager Luis de la Fuente observed.
passing accuracy
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His control is impeccable; Passing accuracy almost perfect. Throughout the tournament, Cubarsi has attempted 449 passes, missing just 17, giving him an exceptional passing accuracy of 96 percent. Five of them were key passes. He became the fastest five clean sheets, overtaking Italian metronome Paolo Maldini. “It’s not an individual thing, it’s a collective effort,” Qubarsi praised his teammates after the Portugal game.
It is both individual and collective, because all are strong defenses. Laporte, his side-kick as silky as Qubarsi. He defends without violence, without tension. Before he fell out with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, the latter would rate him as the best left-footed center in the Premier League. “He read the attackers’ intentions before he (the attacker) decided on his plan of action.” He has lost some of his speed due to injuries, but is at his best in positional play and one-on-one situations.
Austria’s Konrad Lemmer (20) runs to the ball against Spain’s Pau Qubarsi (22) during the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match between Spain and Austria, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jay C. Hong)
Alongside them are Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, the team’s metaphorical hitmen, painting Spain with a nasty streak, flowing down the wings with their purposeful sprints and ability to make both underlapping and overlapping runs. Both are proven goal-scorers and assist-producers, and both are essential in a wide passing triangle. Teams look to overload their midfield and Spain find an outlet on the wings, keeping full-back wingers Alex Baena and Yamal busy. Cucurella scored two goals in the loss to Australia; Poro nailed the third. De la Fuente, himself a full-back, has used his wide players expertly.
The midfield, of course, facilitates defensive control with skillful possession. Spain have averaged 68 percent possession. But it is not a possession, as Spain once advertised. A mix of short, medium range and long passing is less likely to cause death (sometimes suicide) per 1000 passes. De la Fuente also shook up Spain’s traditional high defensive line. He often sets Spain in the mid-block and doesn’t oppose the mid-low block either. Each defender can hold their own, but they separate their teammates. If Laporte is not with Cubarci then Cucurella is and so on.
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The defensive unit has personality to match their skills. None of them seemed to falter under the pressure of the World Cup. Freewheel against Belgium USMNT; They benched Kevin De Bruyne. Perhaps, they will recommend him to outrun Spain’s sluggishly dogged defence. Austrian strategist Ralf Ragnik was most admired. “I don’t remember any unforced errors they made. We attacked them and challenged them; we were brave, but we couldn’t stop this combination trick all the time. It’s a perfect watch,” he noted. And at its bottom and center is a 19-year-old whose voice is the most valuable in the locker room.