In a thrilling encounter, Spain's World Cup dreams remained intact, but not without a scare! Spain and Turkey battled to a 2-2 draw, leaving Spanish fans relieved yet on the edge of their seats.
Spain's qualification for the 2026 World Cup was never in doubt, thanks to their dominant performance throughout the campaign. Luis de la Fuente's men proved their mettle, winning five out of six matches and keeping a clean sheet in each victory.
The game started with a bang as Dani Olmo, on his first start since March, found the net after just four minutes. Olmo's finish from Cucurella's pass marked his 12th international goal, a dream start for La Roja. But Turkey had other ideas, and the game took a twist. Deniz Gul's equalizer just before halftime stunned the Spanish crowd, and the visitors weren't done yet.
And here's where it gets dramatic! Turkey took the lead shortly after the hour mark through Salih Ozcan's composed finish. Spain's unbeaten run in competitive games was in jeopardy. But the hosts responded swiftly. Mikel Oyarzabal, in fine form, pounced on a rebound to level the score just eight minutes later.
Turkey needed a miracle to snatch the top spot, requiring a seven-goal victory. Despite their spirited performance, they couldn't breach the European champions' defense further.
Olmo had opportunities to extend Spain's lead in the first half, but Altay Bayindir's heroics kept Turkey in the game. The Turkish side also had their moments, with Baris Yilmaz's acrobatic effort testing Unai Simon.
As the dust settles, Spain celebrates qualification, while Turkey prepares for the playoffs. And the only European team to finish the qualifiers without conceding? That honor goes to England, the sole nation to keep a perfect defensive record.
