FOOTBALL – IN-FORM striker Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain thrashed Georgia 4-0 away yesterday to set a national record and all but guarantee their place in next year’s World Cup finals.
Spain’s romp in Tbilisi, in which Martin Zubimendi and Ferran Torres also scored, put them on a maximum 15 points from five Group E games with 19 goals scored and none conceded.
Second-placed Turkey, who beat Bulgaria 2-0 yesterday, would have to beat Spain 7-0 in Seville on Tuesday to finish as group winners and take the automatic qualification spot.
Luis de la Fuente’s side are now unbeaten in 30 games stretching back to March 2023 – beating the record of 29 they shared with Vicente del Bosque’s golden generation whose streak came between 2010 and 2013.
Spain started without the likes of Daniel Carvajal, Pedri, Rodri and Lamine Yamal, but it made no difference as they outclassed a subdued Georgia side.
Oyarzabal marked his 50th cap by opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 11th minute.
Alex Baena was denied by the base of the post soon afterwards but the European champions doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Fabian Ruiz’s slick pass set up Arsenal midfielder Zubimendi for a cool finish.
It was all too easy for Spain and they cut through Georgia again in the 35th minute as Oyarzabal was played in by Baena before squaring for Torres to tap home.
Oyarzabal scored his eighth goal in his last eight appearances for Spain in the 63rd minute, guiding in a header from a deft cross by Torres.
Later, Switzerland secured a 4-1 victory over Sweden that all but sealed their spot at next year’s World Cup, leaving them top of the group with a considerable goal difference advantage over second-placed Kosovo.
The Swiss top Group B on 13 points, three ahead of Kosovo, who beat Slovenia 2-0 away. They host the Swiss in their final qualifier on Tuesday, but with Switzerland boasting a goal difference of 12 compared to Kosovo’s one, they will likely have to be content with the runners-up spot in the group.
Scotland were beaten 3-2 by Greece but still received a lifeline after Denmark’s 2-2 draw with Belarus in the other Group C game set up a blockbuster clash with the Danes on Tuesday.
Denmark top the group with 11 points after five games. Scotland, who could not find an equaliser despite clawing back from three goals down, are second with 10 points after suffering their first defeat of the campaign. Already-eliminated Greece have six points.
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