Spain 1-1 Iraq Player Ratings: Merchas Doski 8.0/10 First International Goal Shocks European Champions as Iraq Stun Spain in World Cup Dress Rehearsal

European champions Spain. Estadio de Riazor. Eleven days before the World Cup. And Iraq, returning to the tournament for the first time since 1986 after one of the most extraordinary qualification journeys in football history, arrived with absolutely no intention of making up the numbers. Torres' devastating 16th-minute counter perfectly illustrated why the Spain national football team are among the tournament favourites, Olmo's forward ball, the captain's incisive drive, and the reverse shot past Basil combining with the clinical efficiency that defines La Roja at their very best.
Then Doski happened. The left-back, who had never scored for Iraq national football team before stepping foot on the Riazor turf, spotted a gap at Joan Garcia's near post from a seemingly impossible angle in the 27th minute, tried his luck, and watched his looping shot drop into the net in a moment of breathtaking individual instinct that left the stadium stunned and sent the travelling Iraqi support into scenes of absolute euphoria.
Spain pressed relentlessly for the winner throughout the second half, Ferran Torres hitting the crossbar, Pino going close after his half-time introduction, and Merino almost making an instant impact, but Iraq's defensive resilience, their dangerous counter-attacking threat through Farji and Bayesh, and the collective discipline that Graham Arnold had instilled throughout a remarkable qualifying campaign proved utterly unbreakable against a team missing Yamal, Williams, Rodri, Oyarzabal, and Pedri.
The result sends a shiver down the spine of every nation preparing to face Iraq in North America, and perhaps a quiet alarm bell to Spain, whose 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Cape Verde arrives in just eleven days, with questions about their goalkeeper and their ability to break down resolute, well-organised defensive opponents still frustratingly unanswered. Here are Sportsdunia's Spain vs Iraq player ratings.

Spain National Football Team Player Ratings vs Iraq

Here are the Spain national football team player ratings vs Iraq.

Iraq National Football Team Player Ratings vs Spain

Check out the Iraq national football team player ratings vs Spain.