Olmo and Oyarzabal scored as La Roja prolonged their national-record run to 31 video games with out defeat
SEVILLE:
Spain booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with a 2-2 draw towards Turkey of their last qualifier on Tuesday to prime Group E.
Turkey completed second and can compete within the play-offs after they grew to become the primary workforce to power Luis de la Fuente’s Euro 2024 champions to drop factors.
Dani Olmo fired Spain forward however Deniz Gul and Salih Ozcan struck for Turkey because the hosts conceded their first objectives within the qualification course of.
Mikel Oyarzabal hit again to equalise in Seville for a Spain workforce seeking to win soccer’s largest prize for the second time.
Spain scored 21 objectives in qualifying whereas conceding simply twice and haven’t tasted defeat in a nationwide file 31 consecutive video games.
Nevertheless, that run features a 2-2 Nations League last draw with Portugal after extra-time in June, with Spain shedding on penalties.
Turkey confirmed De la Fuente’s aspect aren’t flawless, though Spain had been lacking a number of key gamers, together with Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Rodri.
“There’s a number of work to do and time to consider a number of issues, however we’ll put together properly,” stated De la Fuente, who was upset by Barca star Yamal present process therapy on a groin damage which dominated him out of the ultimate qualifiers.
“I hope I can rely on all of the gamers to have the ability to take the perfect gamers that we have now in Spain to compete in and attempt to win this stunning competitors,” he added.
They knew to succeed in a thirteenth consecutive World Cup all they needed to do was keep away from defeat by a seven-goal margin, which was by no means on the playing cards, and might need triumphed if not for some impressed goalkeeping by Manchester United stopper Altay Bayindir.
“We needed to complete with a win and a clear sheet, so it is bitter-sweet… however we’re blissful to qualify for the World Cup,” Olmo advised TVE.
“They’d probabilities and we did too, there might have been extra objectives.”
After simply 4 minutes Spain took the lead. Marc Cucurella’s cross discovered Olmo within the field and he managed it properly to bypass a defender earlier than ending lethally.
The Barcelona playmaker twice got here near scoring a second from lengthy vary however Bayindir tipped over each efforts.
Turkey turn-around
Turkey grew to become the primary workforce to attain towards Spain in qualifying simply earlier than the break when Gul levelled, reacting shortly to flick residence a knock-down from a nook.
The guests got here out strongly within the second half and compelled Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon right into a pair of sensible saves earlier than taking the lead.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ozcan rifled residence from the sting of the field after Orkun Kokcu had set the ball up properly for him.
Spain bit again and Oyarzabal completed from shut vary after Merih Demiral did brilliantly to dam Yeremy Pino’s shot on the road nevertheless it rebounded off one other defender properly for the Actual Sociedad ahead.
It was Oyarzabal’s sixth aim in a qualifying marketing campaign the place he has staked his declare to be Spain’s beginning striker on the World Cup.
Substitute Samu Aghehowa got here shut as Spain sought a winner, however Bayindir saved out his header after which denied Alex Baena to safe Turkey a formidable level.
Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez discovered the web in stoppage time however his aim was disallowed for offside.
“It is a second to look again and see all we have carried out, all we have labored for, the dedication from everybody, and have fun,” stated Spain’s Marcos Llorente.
“It is a good second for the nationwide workforce and we have now to take pleasure in that.”
