Spain draws 2-2 with Türkiye: warning against complacency
Having already qualified for North America and equalled a record 31 official matches unbeaten, Spain were held to a 2-2 draw by Türkiye at La Cartuja despite Dani Olmo opening the scoring in the fourth minute; Ozcan put the visitors ahead before Oyarzabal equalised.
Just four minutes after the kick-off, Dani Olmo opened the scoring and La Cartuja looked poised for an easy win. But the 2-2 draw against Turkey served as a stark warning to Luis de la Fuente’s Spain: complacency can wipe out any advantage, even when a ticket to the 2026 World Cup is already in hand.
Key developments: early advantage, late warning
A rotation of the squad, with Marcos Llorente, Aleix Garcia and Yeremy Pino getting chances, allowed Spain to start comfortably. When Dani Olmo scored in the 4th minute, the “formal game” mentality became even more evident. Türkiye needed a 7-goal win to advance — a goal that seemed almost impossible given the circumstances of the match.
But that comfort was exchanged for moments of lack of concentration. At the end of the first half, from a corner kick situation that was defended superficially, the visitors equalized. That was the first warning signal. In the second half, Türkiye continued to exploit the space and the home team's lack of rhythm. Ozcan fired a dangerous long-range shot, bringing the score to 2-1 for the visitors.
Spain's pride was touched, and Oyarzabal levelled the game at 2-2 after a chaotic situation in the box. However, this was more of an instinctive reaction than a sign of a control system being rebooted.
Tactical angle: drop intensity, broken connection
In terms of approach, Spain have lost two intangible pillars: intensity and respect for opponents. The personnel changes are reasonable to refresh the squad, but require a tighter structure off the ball and discipline when defending set pieces — where the first goal came.
In transition, the home side lacked the second line of defence to stop Ozcan’s long-range shot. When the pressing rhythm was not synchronized enough, the block stretched, causing the lines to lose connection — a sense of “disconnected system” reflected in the second half.
The meaning of the draw: a psychological lesson before the big journey
The 2-2 result did not change the top of the table, but it raised a question of character: how to maintain focus when the ultimate goal is still ahead. A young and promising team can still be vulnerable if they lack mental stability — especially when the game is considered “safe” by default.
This draw is therefore a valuable “timely scratch”. It is a reminder that every opponent deserves respect, that intensity must be kept high for 90 minutes, and that complacency – however fleeting – opens the door to risk.
Numbers speak for themselves.
- Spain has officially won a ticket to North America for the 2026 World Cup.
- Equaled the Italian national team's record of 31 consecutive official matches unbeaten.
- Going into the final, Spain had scored 21 goals and conceded just twice in their qualifying campaign.
- Score at La Cartuja: Spain 2-2 Turkey (Dani Olmo 4'; Oyarzabal equalizes after a chaotic situation; Türkiye's equalizer and 2-1 lead comes from a corner and Ozcan's long-range shot).
Message for Coach Luis de la Fuente
Luis de la Fuente’s squad has depth and quality, as evidenced by its long unbeaten streak and impressive goal difference. But to turn “potential” into “championship spirit”, Spain need to nail down two things: discipline at set-pieces and maintaining intensity when leading early.
The road to the summer of 2026 is less arduous because of this draw, but certainly clearer: talent alone is not enough. Focus and respect for every game — from La Cartuja today to North America tomorrow — is the ultimate measure.
