Spain’s national football team recently concluded their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-2 draw against Turkiye. Despite the draw, Spain had already secured their spot at the top of Group E. Dani Olmo gave Spain an early lead, but Turkiye equalised before halftime through Deniz Gul.
Salih Ozcan then put Turkiye ahead, only for Mikel Oyarzabal to level the score again. Neither team could find a winner in the final minutes.
This result extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 31 competitive matches, equalling Italy’s record for a World Cup-winning team. Luis de la Fuente has overseen 26 of these games, with 20 wins and six draws. “We are happy and content and this result highlights everything that has been done before,” said De la Fuente. He acknowledged the difficulty of winning at this level and expressed satisfaction with their qualification.
Spain’s qualification marks their 13th consecutive appearance in the World Cup. They navigated a group that included Georgia and Bulgaria with relative ease, scoring 21 goals and conceding just twice. Only England, under Thomas Tuchel, had a better defensive record in UEFA qualifiers.
Mikel Oyarzabal played a crucial role in Spain’s campaign, contributing six goals and four assists. His performance was only surpassed by Erling Haaland of Norway and Memphis Depay of the Netherlands in terms of goal involvements. The upcoming World Cup draw on December 5 will determine Spain’s opponents as they prepare for the tournament.
In March, Spain will face Argentina in the Finalissima at Lusail Stadium. De la Fuente is looking forward to this match against Copa America winners Argentina. “The next thing is the draw, and from December 6 we will start preparing the opponents,” he stated. He expressed excitement about playing Argentina, noting it as an important event for Spanish football.
De la Fuente reflected on past successes while looking forward to future challenges. He noted that what they achieved previously was nearly perfect but emphasised learning from each game. The coach is eager to continue building on this foundation as they prepare for upcoming competitions.
Spain’s journey to another World Cup highlights their consistent performance on the international stage. With a strong squad and strategic leadership, they aim to maintain their competitive edge as they face new challenges ahead.