Ruthless Spain dismantle Turkey as Mikel Merino hat-trick seals 6-0 win

KONYA – Spain coach Luis de la Fuente hailed his “insatiable generation” of players, after Mikel Merino’s hat-trick helped La Roja thrash hosts Turkey 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Sept 7.

The hosts had no answer to Spain’s dominance, undone time and again by the visitors’ speed and finesse, with a helpless Turkish defence torn apart on every counter-attack.

Said de la Fuente: “There is a lot of room for improvement because we have the potential to do so. I can’t imagine how far we can go.

“This generation is insatiable. They always want to win and be better. They make me very happy...

“We have players with extraordinary speed for counter-attacks. What we do is facilitate, develop that idea, and encourage those situations.”

The European champions remained firmly in control of Group E.

They lead the group with six points from two matches, while Turkey and Georgia sit on three points from the same. Georgia beat Bulgaria 3-0 earlier on Sept 7.

The visitors struck early as Pedri found the net in the sixth minute, slotting past goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.

Merino doubled Spain’s tally in the 22nd minute, finishing off a slick passing move inside the box with a simple unmarked strike past the Turkish defence.

In first-half stoppage time, Merino struck again to give Spain a three-goal cushion at the interval.

The onslaught resumed eight minutes into the second half when a Turkish corner backfired, with Ferran Torres leading a rapid counter-attack and finishing off a sharp exchange inside the box to make it four.

Brimming with confidence, Merino completed his hat-trick just four minutes later, capping another breakaway with a stunning left-footed curler from distance that flew into the top corner for Spain’s fifth.

“I’m very happy for winning, to pick up six points, for doing it in this way, and for scoring three goals, which is not normal – the first hat-trick of my career,” said Merino.

Pedri added another one for Spain in the 62nd minute, arriving unmarked at the end of another swift break to slot home his second for the night.

In Cologne, Germany, under pressure after losing their opening Group A qualifier 2-0 in Slovakia on Sept 4, needed until the final quarter of their home meeting with Northern Ireland before securing victory.

Serge Gnabry gave the hosts an early lead, only for Isaac Price of West Bromwich Albion to equalise before half-time.

The home fans were unhappy with Julian Nagelsmann’s team, but they eventually retook the lead on 69 minutes when substitute Nadiem Amiri turned in David Raum’s cross.

Liverpool star Florian Wirtz, playing in his home city, then converted a free kick in style to seal Germany’s first win in Group A.

“We knew it was a catastrophe (in the) last game and we wanted to do things better,” Wirtz told Germany’s RTL network.

“It was a good performance (which) we can definitely build on.”

Germany and Northern Ireland both have three points, while Slovakia lead the way on six points after Tomas Rigo’s late goal clinched a 1-0 victory in Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, Memphis Depay became the Netherlands’ all-time top goalscorer with a brace in their 3-2 win in Lithuania in Group G.

Depay scored his 51st international goal to move clear of Robin van Persie, with whom he had been tied in first place, before Quinten Timber made it 2-0.

They appeared to be on easy street, but Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis pulled one back and Edvinas Girdvainis headed in the equaliser before the break for the team ranked 143rd in the world.

Depay, though, rescued the Netherlands by heading in a Denzel Dumfries cross just after the hour mark.

Ronald Koeman’s side have 10 points after four matches and are ahead of Poland, who won 3-1 at home to Finland, on goal difference with a game in hand.

Neighbours Belgium recorded a second 6-0 win in as many matches in Group J as they swept aside Kazakhstan in Brussels.

REUTERS, AFP