Mikel Merino scored a stunning hat-trick as Spain thrashed Turkey 6-0 away on Sunday in a dominant World Cup qualifying performance, while Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium all registered important victories.
Spain, the reigning European champions, were in sensational form in Konya, registering their second-biggest away win in World Cup qualifying history. Arsenal midfielder Merino marked his first professional hat-trick with a series of outstanding finishes, including a curling shot into the top corner.
Barcelona’s Pedri Gonzalez opened the scoring inside six minutes and later added Spain's sixth. Ferran Torres also got on the scoresheet, as Luis de la Fuente's side moved to six points from two games at the top of Group E. The only downside was an apparent thigh injury to winger Nico Williams.
Elsewhere in Group E, Georgia beat Bulgaria 3-0 in Tbilisi with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nika Gagnidze, and Georges Mikautadze, joining Turkey on three points.
In Group A, Germany bounced back from their opening defeat in Slovakia with a 3-1 home win over Northern Ireland. Serge Gnabry gave the hosts an early lead, but Isaac Price equalised before half-time. Nadiem Amiri restored Germany’s lead in the second half before Florian Wirtz sealed the win with a brilliant free-kick in Cologne.
"We knew it was a catastrophe last game and we wanted to do things better," said Wirtz after the match.
Germany and Northern Ireland both have three points, while Slovakia lead the group with six following a 1-0 win in Luxembourg thanks to a late goal from Tomas Rigo.
In Group G, Memphis Depay became the Netherlands' all-time leading goal scorer with a brace in a 3-2 win against Lithuania in Kaunas. The 31-year-old forward now has 52 international goals, surpassing Robin van Persie. Quinten Timber also scored for the Dutch, who nearly squandered a 2-0 lead before Depay headed in the winner.
The Netherlands sit atop Group G with 10 points from four matches, ahead of Poland on goal difference. Poland beat Finland 3-1 in Chorzow, with goals from Matty Cash, Robert Lewandowski, and Jakub Kaminski.
In Group J, Belgium delivered another commanding 6-0 victory, this time against Kazakhstan in Brussels. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice, moving up to second on Belgium’s all-time scoring list behind Romelu Lukaku. Jeremy Doku also netted a brace, with Nicolas Raskin and Thomas Meunier completing the scoring.
North Macedonia beat Liechtenstein 5-0 and now lead the group with 11 points from five games, one ahead of Belgium and Wales, who both have a game in hand.
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