A Spain different from the one in the World Cup draws with Iraq

A Spain different from the one in the World Cup draws with Iraq

De la Fuente made eight players debut in the 1-1 draw at Riazor before traveling with the 26 to the United States

MADRID, 4 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Spanish soccer team failed (1-1) against Iraq this Thursday at the Riazor Stadium, the last friendly before traveling to the United States in search of the second star in the 2026 World Cup, which was starred by the soccer players who supported the week of training while Luis de la Fuente puts together his team.

Up to eight players made their debut with the senior team in a match that Spain started well, with a goal from Ferran Torres after a quarter of an hour, but that Doski equalized shortly after with a lateral and poisoned shot that caught Joan Garcia off guard. Iraq, in the World Cup in Group I along with France, Senegal and Norway, saved the draw against the European champions like gold.

De la Fuente did not want “a summer gig”, but from the first half there was a lack of rhythm after a few weeks of vacation and little connection in an unusual eleven. However, and despite the fact that Iraq tried to keep its pressure high, the Spanish team did not take long to trap its rival and even take the lead, through Ferran.

The FC Barcelona forward took advantage of Borja Iglesias’ good moments to draw a long diagonal and beat the Iraqi goalkeeper without having to cross the shot too much. Ahmed Basil sang shortly after having prevented Alex Baena’s goal, but he had no more work until the break. The 2010 world champion suffered an unexpected setback at 1-1 and her production dropped.

Merchas Doski came forward on the left wing with a shot that surprised Joan Garcia and raised Iraq’s morale. Spain lacked rhythm to once again find holes in a better-armed Asian defense, and Gavi tried to infect the rest with his intensity. The Barça player came from the second line and Ferran hit the crossbar, and at half-time the ‘Red’ had some reaction.

De la Fuente began the carousel of changes at the restart, until the entire team was rotated, but the European champion lacked the spark to overcome the rival defensive wall. As soon as he entered, Jesús Rodríguez had it showing intensity and overflow, although he was able to give a definitive pass to the debutant Gonzalo García.

Real Madrid forward Marc Pubill, Beñat Turrientes, Javi Guerra, Leo Román and Javi Rodríguez, as well as starters Marc Bernal and Jon Martín, had their absolute debut at Riazor. The Riojan coach gave the alternative to the nine players he brought to Galician lands to help a Spain that brought together 26 this Wednesday and that, between injuries and the accumulation of minutes, had to manage the deadlines before the World Cup.

A header from Jon Martín was another approach from Spain already heading into the last half hour. The ball did not go to De la Fuente’s team and Iraq, which will have to deal with a demanding group in the World Cup that starts on June 11, took very seriously defending the tie. The Asian team even over-braked in a couple of innings, which made Spain measure up even more.

The opportunity for Mikel Merino was the best news of the final stretch, after his long injury, with the Arsenal player picking up pace in the midfield position that gives him such good results when he plays with Spain. The tie did not budge and the ‘Red’, with a lot ahead of them, packed their bags for this Friday to head to the United States without the support players and with the 26 chosen.

The team will have a more useful friendly against Peru on the 8th in Mexico (early morning of the 9th in Spain), before its debut against Cape Verde on the 15th, within a Group H that it shares with Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, teams that will surely be locked in like Iraq, although by then, Spain will be a different team.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–RESULT: SPAIN, 1 – IRAQ, 1. (1-1, at half-time).

–ALIGNMENTS.

SPAIN: Joan García (Leo Román, min.73); Pedro Porro (Javi Rodríguez, min.73), Laporte (Eric Garcia, rest), Jon Martín (Marc Pubill, min.68), Grimaldo (Sergio Gómez, rest); Bernal (Turrientes, min.68), Gavi (Javi Guerra, min.59), Olmo (Jesús Rodríguez, rest); Ferran (Yeremy Pino, rest), Baena (Merino, min.68), Borja Iglesias (Gonzalo, rest).

IRAK: Basil (Hassan, origin); Ali (Putros, min. 62), Tahseen (Younis, min. 62), Hahseen (Sulaka, min. 62), Doski (Yahya, min. 61; Saadoon, min. 72); Ismail (Iqbal, min. 62), Al Ammari (Yakob, min. 62), Bayesh (Amyn, min. 72), Jasim, Farji (Qasem, min. 61), Al Hamadi (Hussein, descanso).

–GOALS:

1 – 0, min.16, Ferran.

1 – 1, min. 27, Doski.

–REFEREE: Florian Badstubner (GER). He cautioned Bernal (min.32) and Gavi (min.38) for Spain. And to Ismail (min.57) and Sulaka (min.80) in Iraq.

–STADIUM: Abanca Riazor (A Coruña).