Spain vs Turkey player ratings: Hat-trick hero Mikel Merino leads sensational La Roja to 6-0 victory as Lamine Yamal & Pedri run riot
The Arsenal man grabbed three goals as the reigning European champions stormed to a comprehensive win in Konya.Spain made it two wins out of two in their World Cup qualifying group with a resounding 6-0 victory over Turkey on Sunday night. With the whistles raining tirelessly down from the stands, La Roja kicked off the game knowing that they would have to produce something special to silence the home crowd – and they soon did. Nico Williams fed the ball to Pedri, who, receiving it 25 yards from goal, faked and cut away from Hakan Calhanoglu before curling the ball beyond the sprawling Ugurcan Cakir after just six minutes.Needing to respond and gee up their raucous home support, the Turkish forwards found some space in behind, but wasted their efforts and were made to pay moments later. After 22 minutes, a slick passing move, reminiscent of the great Spain team of the 2010s, was finished off clinically by Mikel Merino before the helpless and aimless Turkish defenders even knew what had happened.Williams was forced off with an injury to provide the only dampener of the first half for Spain, but the shine was only taken off for so long. On the stroke of half-time, another dazzling move between Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedri found its way to Arsenal star Merino, who added his second of the game and third in a week.The Spanish pressure did not let up after the interval either. Breaking from a 52nd-minute Turkish corner, Torres, Pedri and Lamine Yamal raced forward exchanging passes before Torres drilled low beyond Cakur. Five minutes later, it was five. Yamal found Merino 30 yards from goal, and the midfielder, without many options, strode forward before curling a spectacular effort into the top-left corner from distance – an effort worthy of completing any hat-trick.Just past the hour mark, Oyarzabal got his third assist of the game as he set up Pedri’s second to make it 6-0. The sixth goal allowed Spain boss Luis de la Fuente to ring the changes and see out a rather quiet last half-hour.GOAL rates Spain's players from the Konya Buyuksehir Stadium...
The Arsenal man grabbed three goals as the reigning European champions stormed to a comprehensive win in Konya.Spain made it two wins out of two in their World Cup qualifying group with a resounding 6-0 victory over Turkey on Sunday night. With the whistles raining tirelessly down from the stands, La Roja kicked off the game knowing that they would have to produce something special to silence the home crowd – and they soon did. Nico Williams fed the ball to Pedri, who, receiving it 25 yards from goal, faked and cut away from Hakan Calhanoglu before curling the ball beyond the sprawling Ugurcan Cakir after just six minutes.Needing to respond and gee up their raucous home support, the Turkish forwards found some space in behind, but wasted their efforts and were made to pay moments later. After 22 minutes, a slick passing move, reminiscent of the great Spain team of the 2010s, was finished off clinically by Mikel Merino before the helpless and aimless Turkish defenders even knew what had happened.Williams was forced off with an injury to provide the only dampener of the first half for Spain, but the shine was only taken off for so long. On the stroke of half-time, another dazzling move between Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedri found its way to Arsenal star Merino, who added his second of the game and third in a week.The Spanish pressure did not let up after the interval either. Breaking from a 52nd-minute Turkish corner, Torres, Pedri and Lamine Yamal raced forward exchanging passes before Torres drilled low beyond Cakur. Five minutes later, it was five. Yamal found Merino 30 yards from goal, and the midfielder, without many options, strode forward before curling a spectacular effort into the top-left corner from distance – an effort worthy of completing any hat-trick.Just past the hour mark, Oyarzabal got his third assist of the game as he set up Pedri’s second to make it 6-0. The sixth goal allowed Spain boss Luis de la Fuente to ring the changes and see out a rather quiet last half-hour.GOAL rates Spain's players from the Konya Buyuksehir Stadium...
