Spain 1-1 Iraq, a draw that leaves more questions than assurances for Luis de la Fuente on the eve of the transatlantic tour. Iraq, drilled by G. Arnold, absorbed long spells without the ball at Riazor on Thursday and still left Galicia level.
Key moments
Ferran Torres put Spain in front in the 16th minute, applying the finish after Dani Olmo’s set-up to mark his 25th goal for La Roja and draw level with Emilio Butragueño on the all-time list. Eleven minutes later Merchas Doski levelled from Akam Hashem’s service, Iraq’s only shot on target before the break. Spain’s tempo dipped after that concession and it never properly recovered.
Spanish focus
De la Fuente’s experimental lineup, with Pedro Porro, Jon Martín, Aymeric Laporte and Alejandro Grimaldo shielding a midfield of Pablo Gavi and Marc Bernal, dominated possession at 66 percent. Gavi, cautioned in the 37th minute, was the sharpest reference between the lines, winning ten of his sixteen duels. Bernal, booked at 32 minutes, offered bite but also revealed inexperience when Iraq broke through Spain’s high full-backs. With Borja Iglesias drifting offside twice and Álex Baena creating three key passes without reward, the finishing touch was missing.
De la Fuente detonated his bench at half-time, rolling on Sergio Gómez, Eric García, Gonzalo García, Jesús Rodriguez and Yéremy Pino. The wholesale change blunted coherence. Gonzalo García misplaced early touches, while Pino and Rodriguez attacked space without syncing their runs. By the 59th minute the spine had changed again, with Marc Pubill, Javier Guerra and Beñat Turrientes trying to reboot circulation. Pubill impressed on the right, yet Spain’s final-third work remained sterile. Leo Román’s entrance for Joan García in the 73rd minute underlined the experimental theme, with eleven substitutions deployed across the night and little continuity.
Iraq’s resistance
Arnold’s opening shape leaned on a compact back line marshalled by Zaid Tahseen and Akam Hashem. Zaid Ismail’s yellow card at 57 minutes reflected the strain, but the visitors timed their substitutions meticulously. Between the 61st and 62nd minutes Iraq refreshed almost every line, introducing Ahmed Qasem, Zidane Iqbal, Kevin Yakob, Frans Putros, Rebin Sulaka, Munaf Younus and Ahmed Yahya in a single wave. That rotation restored energy, even if it reduced attacking ambition. Sulaka’s booking at 80 minutes was the price of a disciplined rearguard that conceded just four shots on target overall. Jalal Hassan, on for Ahmed Basil at the interval, did not face the same barrage as his predecessor thanks to a tightened block that frustrated Spain’s new attackers.
Tactical snapshot
Spain recycled at will and completed 614 of 679 passes, yet lacked depth once Ferran Torres departed. Eric García stepped high to pin Iraq back, leaving space that Arnold’s forwards nearly exploited in transition. When Iraq had possession they were pragmatic: three total shots, two on target, but enough to expose Spain’s vulnerability to the first counter. Zidane Iqbal’s cameo steadied their exits, while Munaf Younus and Frans Putros cleared aerial balls Spain kept swinging in late.
Stats
- Possession: Spain 66 percent, Iraq 34 percent
- Total shots: Spain 13, Iraq 3
- Shots on target: Spain 4, Iraq 2
- Corners: Spain 5, Iraq 3
- Saves: Spain 1, Iraq 3
- Bookings: Marc Bernal 32 minutes, Pablo Gavi 37 minutes, Zaid Ismail 57 minutes, Rebin Sulaka 80 minutes
What it means
Spain leave for their Americas leg still seeking fluency between the rotating forwards. The staff must translate possession into penetration before the next friendly on the schedule. Iraq, whose next assignments arrive closer to continental qualifiers, carry the confidence of a disciplined draw in Europe. For more international coverage see France vs Ivory Coast, check the latest from Czech Republic vs Guatemala, and track the build-up to Mexico vs Serbia.
