INGLEWOOD, California, July 2 (Reuters) - Spain put their ⁠World Cup rivals on notice with a dominant 3-0 win over Austria on Thursday thanks to a Mikel Oyarzabal double and another commanding ⁠defensive display to reach the last 16.

Spain, who arrived at the tournament among the favourites and have yet to concede a ‌goal, made a slow start with a draw against Cape Verde but Austria had no answer to their opponents' relentless attack and impenetrable back line on a sunny day in Southern California.

While Spain's attack, especially teenage forward Lamine Yamal, gets most of the attention, their defence continues to excel.

They did not allow a shot on target on Thursday, the first team to achievethat feat ​in a World Cup knockout match since Germany in the 2014 final against Argentina.

Spain will ⁠face Portugal or Croatia for a place in the quarter-finals.

"I ⁠don't know who I'd prefer to play, I haven't planned for each team," Oyarzabal said. "Bring them on."

SPAIN APPLY RELENTLESS PRESSURE

The Spaniards started brightly, with Lamine ⁠repeatedly ‌troubling Austria's defense as La Roja pressed for an early breakthrough.

They thought they had gone ahead from a short-range shot by Marc Cucurella, but the effort was ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

The pressure finally paid off, though, when Cucurella whipped a precise cross into the ⁠area and Oyarzabal steered it into the bottom corner, igniting the largely Spain-supporting crowd.

Schlager ​kept Austria in the match before halftime, producing ‌back-to-back saves from a free kick and the ensuing scramble to ensure his side went into the interval trailing by only one.

Austria's best ⁠opportunity to equalise came ​in the second half when a lovely cross into the box was headed by Sasa Kalajdzic, but the ball landed harmlessly on top of the goal.

Austria, who squeaked into the knockout round with a last-gasp goal to draw with Algeria, struggled to create clear chances against a Spain side who remained composed in possession and disciplined at the back ⁠to continue their shutout streak.

Pedro Porro added Spain's second in the 66th minute with ​a header into the middle of the net in front of a sold-out crowd that included Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Oyarzabal struck again in the 89th minute for his fourth goal of the tournament following a defensive lapse by a visibly frustrated Austrian side.

LAMINE DREAMING OF WORLD CUP TITLE

Spain, World Cup winners ⁠in 2010, looked confident and assured against Austria and will take encouragement from the performance of 18-year-old Lamine, who looked to have shaken off the hamstring injury that had hampered him earlier in the tournament.

The teenager said he was gradually rediscovering his rhythm after a lively display.

"Little by little, I’m starting to feel like myself again," Lamine said. "Making the runs I need to make, the dribbles -- everything."

With Spain heading to Dallas for the last-16 match, Lamine said there was ​no margin for error.

"The crucial moment is now," he said. "You can go home if you want, but that's ⁠not what any of us wants, no Spaniard wants that, and we're going to give it our all. Now it's time to rest and think about the ​next match."

Lamine said playing at a World Cup represented the pinnacle of the sport and that ‌his focus was now on helping Spain go all the way.

"When a child ​dreams of playing football, they dream of playing for their national team and in a World Cup," he said. "So, here I am. I’m thinking about advancing further and fulfilling my dream of winning a World Cup with Spain."

(Additional reporting by Joe Brock, editing by Ed Osmond)