Spain deliver a masterclass in Turkey: pressure on Montella

Spain’s national team delivered a performance for the ages in Konya, dismantling Turkey 0-6 in front of a stunned home crowd.

It was a display that perfectly embodied Luis de la Fuente’s philosophy: high-tempo possession football, suffocating pressing, and clinical execution. From the very first minutes, La Roja set the tone, dictating every aspect of the game and leaving Turkey with no answers.

The night belonged to Mikel Merino, the Arsenal midfielder who rose to the occasion with a remarkable hat-trick. His timing, movement, and precision finishing showcased not only his individual quality but also the collective fluidity of Spain’s play. After Pedri broke the deadlock with a fine strike, Merino finished off a flowing move that involved nearly the entire Spanish midfield and front line, with short, sharp passes even inside the Turkish penalty area. Just before the interval, he struck again, effectively putting the game out of Turkey’s reach by halftime with the score at 0-3.

If there were any doubts about Spain’s dominance, Merino erased them early in the second half. Ten minutes after the restart, he received the ball some twenty metres out, sized up the goal, and curled a stunning shot with the inside of his foot straight into the top corner. It was the crowning moment of his hat-trick and a contender for goal of the night.

Spain’s superiority wasn’t limited to Merino. Substitute Ferran Torres, who had replaced the injured Nico Williams, added his name to the scoresheet with a composed finish, while Pedri completed his brace soon after. At that stage, the scoreboard read 0-6, yet Spain had still squandered chances. Lamine Yamal, usually so precise in front of goal, blasted a first-half effort high over the bar from close range, a rare miss on an otherwise commanding night.

Turkey, for their part, did create openings. Orkun Kökcü, brought on as a substitute, tried to inject some urgency into his side, but even he could not prevent the humiliation. The hosts carved out a few opportunities that could have given them at least a consolation goal, yet poor finishing and Spain’s compact defensive structure meant they ended the match empty-handed. The final whistle confirmed not just a heavy defeat, but a deep wound to their confidence and growing questions about the future of coach Vincenzo Montella.

The result was doubly damaging for Turkey because of what unfolded elsewhere in the group. Georgia secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Bulgaria earlier in the evening, adding further complications to the standings. Star forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring after half an hour, displaying the quality that has made him one of Europe’s most exciting talents. On the stroke of halftime, Nika Gagnidze doubled Georgia’s lead with a clinical finish, ensuring a comfortable cushion heading into the break.

The second half brought the decisive third goal, as former Ajax striker Georges Mikautadze reacted quickest when the Bulgarian goalkeeper spilled a shot, slotting home from close range to seal the 3-0 result. It was a win that lifted Georgia and simultaneously pushed Turkey down the table, stripping them of second place and piling more pressure on Montella.

As the dust settles on this dramatic night of qualifiers, Spain can take pride in a performance that underlines their potential as genuine contenders on the road to the 2026 World Cup. With Pedri dictating the tempo, Merino delivering goals from midfield, and the squad depth offering solutions in every area of the pitch, La Roja look both balanced and dangerous. For Turkey, however, the story is very different. Once confident of securing qualification, they now face mounting scrutiny, an impatient public, and a coach under siege after back-to-back setbacks.