Spain vs Iraq- Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Spain begin their final World Cup preparations on Thursday evening when they host Iraq in La Coruña.

The reigning European champions head into the summer tournament among the primary favourites to lift the trophy in North America. Luis de la Fuente hopes to guide his side to a second global crown following their maiden triumph in 2010. La Roja comfortably topped their qualification group with five victories from six matches to secure their tournament spot.

Meanwhile, Iraq arrive in Europe celebrating a historic return to the grandest international stage. The Lions of Mesopotamia secured their first World Cup appearance since 1986 after an exhausting qualification campaign.

Graham Arnold’s men defeated Bolivia in a dramatic intercontinental playoff in April to seal their qualification. This intriguing, friendly fixture at the Estadio Abanca-Riazor provides a vital testing ground for both squads.

Spain vs Iraq- Match preview and team news

Team news

Spain

Luis de la Fuente must navigate this initial warm-up fixture without his explosive first-choice wingers. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams remain completely unavailable as they recover from their respective injuries. The manager expressed confidence that both stars will regain full fitness before their tournament opener against Cape Verde.

Midfield engine Mikel Merino also sits out this contest due to a lingering fitness issue. Barcelona starlet Marc Bernal has joined the senior squad as part of a temporary backup group. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya will join the camp late, leaving Unai Simon and Joan Garcia competing to start.

Iraq

Iraq captain Jalal Hassan will earn his 101st international cap when he starts between the posts on Thursday. The experienced goalkeeper expects protection from a back four comprising Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashim, and Merchas Doski.

Former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal faces intense competition to secure a starting spot in central midfield. Amir Al-Ammari, Aimar Sher, and Kevin Yakob remain strong options to anchor the engine room. Prolific striker Aymen Hussein will lead the line alongside Ipswich Town forward Ali Al-Hamadi in a physical front pairing.

Form

Spain

La Roja enter this fixture sitting second in the official FIFA global rankings. The Spaniards have built an incredible habit of completely overpowering their opponents over the last two years. They remain unbeaten in regular time across their last 28 international matches in all competitions. Their only defeat during this exceptional 27-month stretch came on penalties against Portugal last summer.

De la Fuente’s side also boast a formidable unbeaten record of 16 consecutive matches on home soil. That said, they suffered a frustrating goalless draw against Egypt in their most recent home appearance. The hosts enjoy playing in La Coruña, where they have never lost an international match in history. Their last appearance at this venue resulted in an emphatic 5-0 victory over Belgium back in 2009.

Iraq

The visitors occupy 57th place in the world rankings as they prepare for a daunting tournament group. Iraq must face heavyweight opposition in France, Senegal, and Norway during their upcoming group-stage campaign. However, the Middle Eastern nation have progressed significantly since the tactical appointment of Australian manager Graham Arnold.

They have secured nine victories from their last 14 international matches across all fronts. The Lions of Mesopotamia recently recorded consecutive friendly victories against Bolivia and Andorra to build confidence. They managed a narrow 1-0 win over Andorra last month to maintain their fine momentum.

Predicted lineups

Spain Predicted XI: Simon; Porro, Pubill, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Gavi, Rodri, Pedri; Pino, Oyarzabal, Torres

Iraq Predicted XI: Hassan; H. Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Amyn, Al-Ammari, Sher, Bayesh; Al-Hamadi, Hussein

How to watch Spain vs Iraq?

You can watch the Spain vs. Iraq international friendly live in the UK exclusively on Amazon Prime Video UK. The match kicks off at 8:00 PM BST, and live coverage of the fixture will be streamed directly on the platform.

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