Outpoll | Spain's Four Consecutive Wins with 15-0 Total After Nations League Final Defeat

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Spain's Four Consecutive Wins with 15-0 Total After Nations League Final Defeat

Spain's Four Consecutive Wins with 15-0 Total After Nations League Final Defeat

2 days ago7 min read9 comments

The roar that erupted from the RCDE Stadium wasn't just for a routine qualifying victory; it was the sound of a machine recalibrated, a statement of intent forged in the fires of recent disappointment. Luis de la Fuente's Spain, the reigning European champions, didn't just beat Bulgaria tonight—they eviscerated them with a surgical 4-0 display that felt more like a tactical lecture than a football match.This commanding win, coming on the heels of a 3-0 dismantling of the same side back in September, is merely the latest exclamation point on a staggering run of form. Sandwiched between these Bulgarian bookends were two other exhibitions of sheer dominance: a 6-0 evisceration of Turkey and a controlled 2-0 victory over Georgia.The arithmetic is as brutal as it is beautiful: four consecutive wins, a perfect defensive record, and a goal tally of 15-0. This isn't just a rebound; it's a renaissance, a defiant response to the gut-wrenching penalty shootout defeat to Portugal in the Nations League final that left the nation wondering if the post-Luis Enrique era would be one of transition or triumph.That night in Rotterdam feels a lifetime ago now, replaced by a system that hums with the rhythmic precision of Xavi's Barcelona in its prime, a team De la Fuente seems to be channeling with his emphasis on possession with purpose and relentless, intelligent pressing. One can't help but see the ghost of Andrés Iniesta in the elegant, probing movements of Pedri, who tonight orchestrated play with a maturity that belies his years, while the ferocious, box-to-box energy of Rodri evokes the relentless drive of a prime Sergio Busquets, but with a greater goal threat.This isn't mere imitation; it's evolution, a fusion of tiki-taka's soul with a modern, vertical ruthlessness. The broader context makes this run even more impressive.The shadow of that Nations League final, where the cruelty of spot-kicks denied them silverware, could have fractured a lesser squad. Instead, De la Fuente, a man steeped in the fabric of Spanish youth football, has used it as a catalyst, forging a unit with a steelier spine.The debate now isn't about qualifying for the 2026 World Cup—that seems a formality—but about whether this version of La Roja has the mettle to challenge the established world order. The 15-0 aggregate speaks to an offensive fluidity that is terrifying, with a revitalized Álvaro Morata playing with the predatory instinct of a David Villa, supported by wingers who cut inside with the devastating effect of a young Pedro.Defensively, the unit operates with a synchronicity that recalls the legendary partnerships of Puyol and Piqué, snuffing out attacks before they even materialize. Analysts will point to the quality of opposition, and rightly so, but the manner of these victories is what truly captivates.It’s the control, the patience, the utter refusal to give an inch. This is a team playing with a point to prove, not just to the world, but to itself.The narrative has flipped entirely. The question is no longer how Spain will recover from their Nations League heartbreak, but how anyone will stop this relentless, goal-hungry juggernaut they have become. The road to 2026 is long, but on this evidence, Spain isn't just participating; they are building a momentum that feels ominously like destiny, a phoenix rising not from ashes, but from the penalty spot.