Spain vs Iraq: Iraq Rock World Cup Favorites With Stunning Result Before Global Showpiece

The World Cup is knocking on the door, and every team is doing their last-minute preparations before going to claim the biggest prize in football, and so is the Spanish national football team , but their confidence was shaken up after they drew against Iraq in a friendly, with the final score being 1-1 at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor in La Coruña. During the game, they had way more ball control but couldn't get past Iraq's super sturdy defence. They took bunches of shots, over a dozen, and even used their subs liberally to amp up their attack. Yet, Iraq stood strong and is leaving Spain's pitch with a big psychological win. For Iraq, it’s extra sweet since they're returning to the World Cup after some time away.

Spain controlled the game from the beginning as they maintained a high level of ball possession, and that led to 1-0 up score In the 16th minute of the game courtesy of a goal by Ferran Torres. Borja Iglesias made a smart move alongside the Spanish number 10, Dani Olmo, which allowed the ball to move to Ferran Torres. He then nailed a low shot past their keeper, Ahmed Basil. That put Spain up 1-0, and folks thought goals would keep coming.

Iraq fought back unexpectedly, silencing the home crowd. They scored an equaliser when Merchas Doski, the left-back, ran onto a long ball that skipped past Spain's defence. Doski then let fly with an unbelievable shot from an acute angle. It went in high over the goalkeeper Joan Garcia's reach, tying the match at 1-1. After that goal, Spain pushed hard for a lead going into halftime. Yet, Olmo’s quick strike was blocked by Basil, and Torres’ shot hit the crossbar. So, the game stayed 1-1 until the break.

The second half was pretty disjointed because both teams rotated their squads a lot. Luis de la Fuente really shook up things by giving debut appearances to eight players- including Marc Bernal, Jon Martin, Jesus Rodriguez, and goalkeeper Leo Roman. He also saved some key players like Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Rodri, and Pedri for later. But these frequent substitutions dismantled the rhythm of the game. On a positive note, Mikel Merino was back after a long injury, even leading the team as captain.

Iraq’s solid defence line showed a true masterclass of a performance on the pitch, and the exceptional goalkeeping performance by their goalkeepers, Ahmed Basil and Jalal Hassan, was a cherry on top. Together, they earned a solid draw that was well-deserved. As the tournament is getting closer, Spain needs to work on their attack line before facing the mighty Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and the newly entered underdog Cape Verde in Group H. For Iraq, joining France, Senegal, and Norway in Group I feels huge. It’s only their second World Cup in over three decades, so they’re pretty pumped up about it.

Sportscape believes that Spain couldn't turn their control of the game into clear chances against Iraq. They drew, which shows a problem against teams that defend deeply. Coach Luis de la Fuente tried out some backup players, but it was frustrating. Spain needs better attacking moves if they want to win their second World Cup title.