Without using their strongest lineup, Spain still secured an easy 3-1 victory away against Cyprus to maintain their lead in Group A of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, fending off competition from Scotland.
Spain and Scotland had already secured their places in Euro 2024, so the remaining matches only determined the top position in Group A.
Therefore, in the away game at Alphamega on the evening of November 16, Coach Luis De La Fuente did not deploy the strongest lineup, with Unai Simon, Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, and Dani Carvajal on the bench.
Nevertheless, with key players such as David Raya, Pau Torres, Gavi, and Mikel Oyarzabal in the starting lineup, Spain still had a superior squad compared to Cyprus, currently ranked 124th in the FIFA rankings. Over 90 minutes, Spain dominated with 77% ball possession, 14 shots with five on target, compared to Cyprus’s 4 shots with 3 on target.
Spain asserted their dominance and settled the match within the first half-hour. In the 5th minute, 16-year-old Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal executed two skillful moves to eliminate the Cyprus defense, then shot into the empty net to open the scoring. Yamal’s goal came after 22 passes, the best passing sequence for Spain in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and the fourth-best in the entire qualification stage.
In the 22nd minute, Alex Grimaldo threaded a pass for Mikel Oyarzabal to enter the penalty area and score with a deft-angled shot, beating goalkeeper Joel Mall. Six minutes later, Oyarzabal delivered a corner kick to the far post, where Joselu headed in to make it 3-0.
Spain played more deliberately in the second half, allowing Cyprus to perform better. In the 75th minute, Charalampous set up substitute Kostas Pileas, who scored with a near-post shot, beating David Raya. After reviewing the collision between Grigoris Kastanos and Gavi through VAR, referee Mykola Balakin awarded the goal to Cyprus.
In the other match, Scotland faced difficulties away against Georgia. Napoli’s star, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, twice put Georgia ahead, but Scotland equalized through goals from Scott McTominay and Lawrence Shankland.
With these results, Spain still tops Group A with 18 points, two points ahead of Scotland. In the final round on November 19, Spain will return home to face Georgia, while Scotland takes on Norway.
Lineup:
Cyprus: Mall, Andreou, Karo (Kousoulos 66), Gogic, Laifis, Ioannou, Kyriakou (Charalampous 46), Kyprianou (Spoljaric 46), Kastanos, Correia (Pileas 46), Pittas (Kakoullis 60)
Spain: Raya, Grimaldo, Pau Torres, Le Normand (Garcia 46), Navas (Carvajal 66), Gavi, Zubimendi, Merino (Garcia 46), Yamal (Torres 73), Joselu, Oyarzabal (Riquelme 46)
