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Everything started in Scottish soil and the momentum continues. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his final assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating the Spanish national team, while almost all spectators anticipated his spell would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a route opening - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of living in Disneyland turned out right.

36 months and later, Spain moved extremely close of global football participation, and also racking up their 29th consecutive competitive game unbeaten, matching the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to secure 12 points from twelve in qualifying, edging closer. The Arsenal playmaker and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and might have secured his second hat-trick in three recent Spain appearances but when brought down in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real attacker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who continued the remarkable sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have observed the symbol, and rightly so. Although FIFA may not count it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet officially at least, this current team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the frontrunners once more, just like old times.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, just as previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two instances immediately after the Spanish team obtained their opening goals – the third strike being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a single shot on target.

Overall count read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to resist as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Pedri's Masterclass

This performance was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: everywhere for Spain, nowhere for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he darted through their defense. He executed 101 passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the opening period, he had just drifted unmarked into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not just that. He had already lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled an additional back from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the opener, and a neat lay-off saw Oyarzabal scuff his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a clean contact, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated an additional ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa could have made it two-nil.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and hitting the outside of the net.

Brought on for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to direct the header downward and dash off to celebrate round the flagpost.

Final Moments

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria escaped once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the initial instance the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Yet it was not completely finished, Merino kicked in the shins and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing reign.