Everything commenced in Scottish soil and the momentum continues. That memorable night at Hampden represented only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; many believed it might turn out to be his final match in charge. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators expected his spell would be short-lived, De la Fuente talked about a route opening - and remarkably, the man once accused of living in Disneyland proved right.
36 months and later, Spain moved to within touching distance of World Cup participation, and also racking up their 29th consecutive official game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.
During an evening when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in World Cup qualification, edging closer. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime forward scored the first two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three Spain appearances but after fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.
Therefore it was La Real striker, scorer of the winning goal in the European Championship showpiece, who maintained the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.
Now, readers may have noticed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once â seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. Yet formally at least, this current team has matched that historic team against which all Spanish national teams are measured.
Win in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times.
This was "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after La SelecciĂłn obtained their first two goals â the third strike being an self-inflicted â but ultimately their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target.
The total statistics read: 33-3, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. As it turned out, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target already.
This performance was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to detect him as he flitted through their lines. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the sharpest too.
When the Valladolid stadium chanted his name midway the opening period, he had just slipped unmarked into the penalty box again, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Ălex Baena to strike wide and delivered an additional pass from which Baena was blocked.
An cleverly weighted delivery had set Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to fail to find a proper connection, striking wide.
But then, almost immediately after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had run out of spray paint midway through and a little later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.
But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria got into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and hitting the outside of the net.
Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left was excellent from Ălex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and sprint to celebrate round the flagpost.
Similar to their reaction after the opener, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov sent through and putting his and their following shot wide and yet the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev deflecting into his team's goal. Still it was not completely done, Merino kicked in the shins and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.
A tech enthusiast and lifestyle blogger with a passion for sharing practical insights and inspiring creativity in everyday life.
New
