Not A Tennis Score! Spain Blank Turkey In Six-Goal Decimation Job In FIFA WC Qualifiers

Last Updated:September 08, 2025, 02:55 IST

Merino found the net thrice, while Pedri added a brace with Barcelona teammate Ferran Torres chipping in with the other goal of the day for Luis De La Fuente's men.

Turkey's Ismail Yuksek, left, challenges Spain's Mikel Merino during a World Cup qualifying round Group E soccer match between Turkey and Spain at Konya Buyuksehir stadium, in Konya, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Spain hit six unanswered goals past Turkey in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification game between the sides at the Torku Arena on Sunday as Mikel Merino starred with a hattrick.

Merino found the net thrice, while Pedri added a brace with Barcelona teammate Ferran Torres chipping in with the other goal of the day for Luis De La Fuente’s men.

After a comfortable 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Thursday, the coach pledged that his Euro 2024-winning team had an even higher level to reach, and they proved that in Konya.

Some billed the match as a battle between Barcelona and Spain starlet Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid and Turkey playmaker Arda Guler, but the gulf in class between the sides did not allow for any reasonable comparison.

Pedri broke the deadlock in the sixth minute with a fine finish from the edge of the box, as Spain made a quick start.

Arsenal’s Merino scored the first of his hat-trick by blasting home at the end of a superb team move, as Spain shredded Turkey’s defence with quick, incisive passing.

At the other end, Guler set up Kerem Akturkoglu, who hit the post but was later shown to be offside.

Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams was taken off before the break with an apparent thigh injury, in the only negative note for Spain.

Merino netted his second in first-half stoppage time after being teed up by Mikel Oyarzabal, who provided three assists.

Electric 18-year-old Yamal played in Barcelona team-mate Torres for Spain’s fourth in the 53rd minute and then laid the ball off for Merino to curl home from distance for his treble.

With Turkey six goals down, tempers frayed—the frustrated Guler shoved a grinning Yamal as the pair squared off.

De la Fuente took off Yamal soon after, as Spain saw out their emphatic victory without further incident, sending an early warning that they intend to arrive at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as favourites.

Spain, who won the tournament for the only time in 2010, have six points, with Georgia and Turkey on three each. Bulgaria are bottom with zero.

News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

News sports Not A Tennis Score! Spain Blank Turkey In Six-Goal Decimation Job In FIFA WC Qualifiers

Read More