Spain 1-1 Iraq: Doski stunner denies European champions winning send-off

Merchas Doski's stunning first-half equaliser denied Spain a winning send-off to the World Cup as they played out a 1-1 draw with Iraq.

The European champions opened the scoring early on at Estadio Abanca-Riazor through Ferran Torres, but could not find a winner in a disjointed second half.

Spain started on the front foot and could have taken the lead within the opening eight minutes as Alex Baena cut inside from the left, but his low effort across goal was pushed wide by Ahmed Basil.

The hosts were in front eight minutes later as Dani Olmo picked out Torres just inside Iraq's half, and he drove into the box before slotting his reverse shot under the goalkeeper.

However, Spain were pegged back against the run of play just before the half-hour mark, with the quick-thinking Doski beating Joan Garcia from just outside the box on the left with a looping strike.

Basil smothered a tight-angled attempt from Olmo moments later, while he was also quick to react to tip Torres' long-range drive onto the crossbar before the break.

Half-time substitutes Jesus Rodriguez and Gonzalo Garcia both saw chances go begging as Spain struggled to find their rhythm in the second half. Yeremy Pino sent a late sighter off distance, and they had to settle for a draw before heading to Mexico.

Spain fall short of perfect send-off

Spain have not lost any of their last 29 matches in regulation time, since a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia in March 2024, but they would have been hoping for more than a draw against Iraq.

They had 13 shots overall and hit the woodwork twice, but they only accumulated 1.36 expected goals (xG), with the large number of changes made in the second half from both sides breaking up the rhythm.

Iraq, by contrast, will take a lot of confidence from this result as they also prepare for the World Cup, where they have been drawn in the 'Group of Death', alongside France, Norway and Senegal. They only got two of their three shots on target (creating 0.15 xG), but Doski was clinical when it mattered.

Baena made a good account of himself, though, with a hard-working performance in which he had a team-high three efforts, while also creating three chances for his team-mates. His 12 passes in the final third were only bettered by Torres' 15.