As Spain prepares to depart from Santiago de Compostela for Chattanooga on Friday morning, a surprising number of debutants will not be joining the team, following a 1-1 draw against Iraq at Estadio Riazor. This result, while disappointing, particularly after a promising start, raises questions about the team’s readiness ahead of the World Cup.
Despite the underwhelming performance, Spain remains a formidable contender for the upcoming tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, this match did not showcase the team’s typical strengths, as many key players were absent.
Fans hoping to gain insights into Spain’s World Cup strategy left La Coruña with more questions than answers. The late arrival of several players on the eve of the match, combined with multiple substitutions, meant that the squad lacked coherence. Only a couple of those typically in the starting lineup participated, leaving the squad feeling more experimental than established.
Notably absent from the match were ten players who will travel to the World Cup, including those from the Champions League final. Coach Luis de la Fuente opted to rest several others, including Nico Williams and the injured Lamine Yamal, who has not played since April. This leaves Spain’s lineup in a state of flux as they prepare for their tournament journey.
On the field, only a handful of players, such as Pedro Porro and Aymeric Laporte, are expected to be regular starters. The match featured several players who are not part of the World Cup squad, with De la Fuente giving opportunities to those who have recently joined training. This resulted in eight players making their debuts, a statistic that may be remembered in the future.
With a solid core group established for the World Cup, this match seemed somewhat redundant. If Joan García aimed to secure his place as the starting goalkeeper, Iraq’s goal may have undermined his cause. Gavi’s performance, however, suggested he is regaining form after injury, as he was active throughout the game.
The tactical structure of Spain appeared different, with a more defined 4-2-3-1 formation, although a shift to a 4-3-3 is anticipated for the tournament. The absence of key wingers meant that Álex Baena and Ferran Torres took up positions that may not offer the direct attacking threat sought by the coach.
One positive for De la Fuente was Laporte’s ability to take charge of ball distribution. He initiated the play that led to Spain’s first goal just 15 minutes into the match. An incisive pass found Olmo, who quickly set up Torres, who darted in from the right and scored with a low shot, putting Spain ahead.
The match largely favored Spain, who dominated possession, but they failed to convert this into more goals. Iraq equalized through Merchas Doski, whose shot, whether intended as a cross or not, slipped past García, who could not secure it. Torres nearly added another for Spain, hitting the bar, while Olmo missed a volley, leaving the score tied at halftime.
In the second half, Spain made significant changes, introducing debutants, including Atlético Madrid’s Pubill. As more substitutions occurred, Merino made his return from injury, wearing the captain’s armband to lead the team. Despite these adjustments, Spain could not find a decisive goal.
While the players from this match may not board the flight to Nashville, a solid squad of 26 will, landing in the US with ample preparation time ahead of the tournament, still considered among the favorites.
