Spain secured automatic qualification to the 2018 World Cup on Friday by virtue of finishing top of UEFA’s tricky Group G. La Furia Roja’s 3-0 victory over Albania confirmed their position while dooming Italy to the playoff round. Rodrigo scored the opener, Isco added a sumptuous second and Thiago grabbed Spain’s third on a celebratory night in Alicante.
Qualification marks Spain’s 11th straight World Cup appearance and 15th overall. The squad has largely moved on from the golden generation that captured the 2010 World Cup although the likes of Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Sergio Busquets remain vital components.
The lasting power of Spain is represented in their hugely successful qualifying campaign. The Spanish have played nine, won eight and drawn one while scoring a staggering 35 goals and conceding only three.
The squad will head to Russia among the favorites because of both their illustrious experience and a crop of players hungry for their own international glory. That includes David de Gea, Alvaro Morata, Dani Carvajal, Thiago, Marco Asensio, Saul and the man of the people, Isco.
Isco’s growing role with Real Madrid has been mirrored in his international responsibilities throughout qualifying. The 25-year-old has quickly become a key attacker for both club and country, and he showed that again on Friday.
Isco has been directly involved in 7 goals in 7 Group G matches for Spain (5 goals, 2 assists). pic.twitter.com/ADEX4QRuGP
— European Qualifiers (@EuroQualifiers) October 6, 2017
Without the Isco, there can be none of the disco. But as of today, it's confirmed that next summer, there will be both Isco and disco in Russia.
The18 Recommends For You
