Mikel Merino scored a superb hat-trick to help Spain defeat Turkey in their World Cup qualifier in Konya.Our midfielder netted his first of the night on 22 minutes before finishing a fine team move just before half-time to double his personal tally.
Mikel rounded off his hat-trick in superb fashion, curling home from range to make it 5-0 on the night. Ferran Torres and Pedri scored the other goals in the 6-0 victory for La Roya.
Martin Zubimendi also started the contest, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Rodri. David Raya was an unused substitute.
The result leaves Spain top of Group E on six points, with Merino having scored four of his nation’s nine goals in the group so far.
Elsewhere, Leandro Trossard started Belgium’s comfortable victory over Kazakhstan. Leo played 63 minutes before being replaced by Malick Fofana. Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku scored twice, with Nicolas Raskin and Thomas Meunier also netting to give Rudi Garcia’s side all three points in Brussels.
Belgium are now second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia with a game in hand.
Jurrien Timber was a second half substitute in the Netherlands’ 3-2 away win over Lithuania. Memphis Depay and Jurrien’s brother, Quinten, put the Dutch into a 2-0 lead before the hosts fought back through Gvidas Gineitis and Edvinas Girdvainis. Jurrien was introduced on 62 minutes, and one minute later, the Netherlands had their winner through Depay.
The victory keeps the Netherlands top of Group G, level on points with Poland.
Thursday, September 4
Norway 1-0 Finland
Friendly | Odegaard played 45 minutes
Liechtenstein 0-6 Belgium
World Cup qualifier | Trossard played 23 minutes as a substitute
Bulgaria 0-3 Spain
World Cup qualifier | Merino scored, Zubimendi assisted, Raya an unused sub
Netherlands 1-1 Poland
World Cup qualifier | Timber an unused sub
Gibraltar 0-1 Albania
Friendly | Kacurri played the full 90 minutes
Friday, September 5
Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador
World Cup qualifier | Hincapie played full 90 minutes
Brazil 3-0 Chile
World Cup qualifier | Gabriel played full 90 minutes, Martinelli played 72 minutes
Spain U21 (Mosquera) 3-0 Cyprus
Euro U21 qualifier | Mosquera played full 90 minutes
Italy 5-0 Estonia
World Cup qualifier | Calafiori played full 90 minutes
Slovenia 2-2 Sweden
World Cup qualifier | Gyokeres played full 90 minutes, provided an assist
Saturday, September 6
England 2-0 Andorra
World Cup qualifier | Rice scored and Madueke assisted. Eze and Lewis-Skelly also started at Villa Park
Sunday, September 7
Lithuania 2-3 Netherlands (Timber)
World Cup qualifier | Timber played the last 28 minutes
Belgium 6-0 Kazakhstan
World Cup qualifier | Trossard started, played 63 minutes
Turkey 0-6 Spain (Raya, Merino, Zubimendi)
World Cup qualifier | Merino scored a hat-trick, Zubimendi played 72 minutes, Raya an unused substitute
Monday, September 8
Kazakhstan U21 v England U21 (Nwaneri)
Euro U21 Qualifier | Pavlodar | 4pm
Israel v Italy (Calafiori)
World Cup qualifier | Debrecen, Hungary | 7.45pm
Kosovo v Sweden (Gyokeres)
World Cup qualifier | Pristina | 7.45pm
Tuesday, September 9
Kosovo v Spain U21 (Mosquera)
Euro U21 qualifier | Pristina | 6pm
Norway v Moldova (Odegaard)
World Cup qualifier | Oslo | 7.45pm
Serbia v England (Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Eze, Madueke)
World Cup qualifier | Belgrade | 7.45pm
Albania (Kacurri) v Lativa
World Cup qualifier | Tirana | 7.45pm
Wednesday, September 10
Ecuador (Hincapie) v Argentina
World Cup qualifier | Guayaquil | 12am
Bolivia v Brazil (Gabriel, Martinelli)
World Cup qualifier | El Alto | 12:30am
