Spain dominated Turkey with a stunning 6-0 victory in their FIFA World Cup Qualifier match in Konya, thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino. The 29-year-old star called it a “magical night” after scoring his first-ever international hat-trick for La Roja.
Merino kicked things off early, netting his first goal in the 22nd minute to give Spain the lead. He doubled his tally just before halftime with a slick finish from a smooth team play. In the second half, he sealed the hat-trick with a gorgeous curling shot from outside the box, making it 5-0. Ferran Torres and Pedri added the other goals to complete the rout in this World Cup qualifier.
Speaking after the game, Merino admitted Spain went in as favorites but never dreamed of such a big win. “Turkey is always a tough opponent, especially with their passionate fans creating a hostile atmosphere,” he said. “We knew it’d be challenging, but we’re confident in winning every match. We didn’t expect six goals, but we played brilliantly from the start, respected them, and got lucky with some early strikes.”
Reflecting on his hat-trick, the midfielder beamed: “It’s incredible—I’m over the moon. I’m not usually a big scorer, so bagging three for my national team against a side like Turkey on a night like this? It’s magical, and I’ll remember it forever.”
This emphatic win puts Spain at the top of Group E with six points from two matches. Merino has been on fire, contributing four of Spain’s nine goals in the group so far. Football fans are buzzing about La Roja’s strong start in the World Cup qualifiers—what a performance!
