Spain’s national team is set to leave Santiago de Compostela at 10am on Friday, heading to Chattanooga with a stop in Nashville. However, seven of the eight players who made their debuts in the final warm-up match before the World Cup won’t be joining them. The team will also not be departing with a victory, having settled for a 1-1 draw against Iraq at Estadio Riazor. The performance was lackluster, with Mikel Merino’s brief appearance being one of the few highlights, but there’s no need for panic.
Coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad remains one of the favorites for the upcoming tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and rightly so; this was not the definitive lineup he intends to field.
For those searching for insights into Spain’s World Cup potential, the match in La Coruña offered few answers. How could it provide clarity when the last group of players only arrived at the training base in Las Rozas at 8:45 PM on Wednesday, just over 24 hours before kickoff? With 11 substitutions made during the match and only two or three of the coach’s preferred starting players on the field, the team’s performance lacked consistency. Moreover, the players who seemed most invested in the match won’t be heading to the tournament at all.
Among those who traveled to the US, ten were notably absent from this game. It wasn’t solely the Champions League finalists—Fabián Ruiz, David Raya, and Martín Zubimendi—who were left out; De la Fuente also opted to rest Nico Williams, who has only featured in six of the last 15 club matches. Additionally, Lamine Yamal, sidelined since April 22 due to a hamstring injury, was also excluded. The status of Lamine Yamal remains a significant concern for the squad. Rodri, Pedri, Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella, and Víctor Muñoz also watched from the stands.
On the pitch, only Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, and possibly Dani Olmo appeared to be regular starters. Two players who started, Marc Bernal and Jon Martín, will not be part of the World Cup team, and seven substitutes at kickoff won’t travel either. De la Fuente utilized this match to give chances to the support squad, who had been training with Spain over the past week. Each of them got playing time, resulting in a total of eight players making their international debuts in one match, a statistic that could be a trivia question someday.
With a well-established squad, Spain has limited positions still up for grabs, making this match feel somewhat unnecessary. If this was an opportunity for Joan García to stake a claim for the goalkeeper position—currently a topic of national debate—the goal conceded by Iraq did not bolster his case. Gavi, returning from an injury-plagued season, had a decent showing, demonstrating his usual energetic presence, though he was booked.
The team’s formation appeared slightly altered as well, with a more defined 4-2-3-1 setup compared to the likely 4-3-3 they will employ in the US. Without Lamine Yamal, Williams, and Muñoz, the wingers were Álex Baena and Ferran Torres, both of whom tend to cut inside, lacking the direct approach that De la Fuente successfully utilized during the Euros, thus providing little insight into their World Cup strategy.
One aspect that may have pleased the head coach was Laporte’s composure in initiating attacks. He intercepted a pass and initiated the move that led to Spain’s goal in the 15th minute. An incisive forward pass broke through Iraq’s pressure and reached Olmo, who quickly advanced the ball. Borja Iglesias let it pass through his legs, allowing Torres to sprint in from the right and score with a low shot, leaving the opposing goalkeeper stranded.
The match quickly turned into a Spanish showcase, complete with cheers and Mexican waves, though further goals were elusive. Iraq equalized thanks to Merchas Doski. If it was intentional, it was a remarkable effort; his position suggested a cross, but his strike suggested otherwise. García managed to get a touch but couldn’t prevent it from finding the net. At the other end, Torres struck the crossbar, and Olmo volleyed over, but the score remained level at halftime as Spain made five substitutions. Jesus Rodríguez, who was only on the pitch for 18 seconds, burst through and shot wide.
Three more substitutes were introduced in the 59th minute, all debutants: Atlético Madrid defender Pubill, who will head to the US, along with Beñat Turrientes and Javi Guerra, who will not. Seven minutes later, a notable substitution occurred with Merino entering the field; having only played 28 minutes on the final day of the Premier League season, he wore the captain’s armband as he aimed to regain full fitness. He was later followed by Leo Román and Rodríguez, but still, no goals were scored.
Although they won’t be on the plane to Nashville, 26 players will be, as they arrive in the US with a week left to prepare and as the team to beat.
