Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as he helped Spain to the brink of World Cup qualification with a 4-0 win over Georgia on Saturday. Spain sit top of Group E after five games, with a three-point lead over Turkiye, who they face in their final match on Tuesday. Ferran Torres saw an early shot blocked, but it resulted in an 11th-minute penalty as Giorgi Gocholeishvili was penalised for a handball - Oyarzabal coolly converted into the bottom-right corner.
I am very flattered. I've always said that I feel very valued by players, by staff. And for me that's the ultimate. Moreover, that they also transmit it to you. It is a reason to be happy because that means that I help them - that I contribute positive things within the team, which is what I want. It is a great compliment.
Merino is surely good enough to be getting more opportunities with Arsenal, with the former Real Sociedad man earning a 9.9 score from WhoScored in the game against Bulgaria. Their stats show that Merino had two shots on target and scored with both of them, while he also made one successful tackle and interception, and completed 87% of his passes.
Spain have reacted impressively since their penalty shootout loss to Portugal in June's UEFA Nations League final. Luis de la Fuente's side opened their World Cup qualifying journey with a commanding 3-0 win over Bulgaria away from home, followed by a 6-0 thrashing of Turkey in their second September fixture. That momentum continued on Saturday, when they defeated Georgia 2-0 at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in Elche.
Barcelona's Dani Olmo will miss Spain's World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria with a calf problem, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed Friday. Olmo, 27, will return to Barcelona for tests to determine the severity of the injury. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Olmo had joined up with Spain earlier this week with fatigue and some discomfort in his calf.
