Spain, seeking to regain the dominance it enjoyed during its Euro 2008-World Cup 2010-Euro 2012 treble, concluded its preparations for the upcoming continental finals in Germany in the best possible way with a resounding 5-1 friendly victory over Northern Ireland on Saturday in Mallorca.
Coach Luis de la Fuente's team entered the match following another impressive 5-0 friendly win against Andorra in Badajoz, including a hat-trick by Real Sociedad substitute Mikel Oyarzabal. That match saw "La Roja" field a lineup missing several key players such as Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams.
However, Rodri, Yamal, Nico Williams, and others started in Mallorca, where the Spaniards began poorly, conceding a goal in the second minute to Paddy McNair from a header following a free kick.
De la Fuente's men quickly responded, with Pedri equalizing in the 12th minute with a long-range shot before Alvaro Morata gave them the lead in the 18th minute with a header from a Jesus Navas cross.
Pedri struck again in the 29th minute after a pass from Nico Williams, and "La Roja" finished the first half with a fourth goal through Fabian Ruiz, who pounced on a loose ball and fired it into the net after a brilliant pass from Yamal (35th minute).
At the start of the second half, De la Fuente brought on Carvajal, fresh off winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, and Alejandro Grimaldo, followed by Aymeric Laporte and Oyarzabal, who was once again on target, scoring the fifth goal in the 60th minute after receiving a cross from Yamal, who was replaced in the 72nd minute by Joselu, after Pedri had previously made way for Mikel Merino (61st minute).
"La Roja" hopes for a strong showing in the continental tournament after dominating the football world between 2008 and 2012, winning the European Championship twice (2008 in Austria and Switzerland and 2012 in Poland and Ukraine) and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Under Luis Enrique, the Spanish national team qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but their journey ended in the round of 16 with a penalty shootout loss to Morocco.
Spain, three-time European champions (a record shared with Germany), will compete in the continental finals in Group B, dubbed the "group of death," alongside defending champions Italy, Albania, and Croatia, who will be their first test next Saturday in Berlin.
