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Everything began in Scottish soil and the momentum remains unbroken. That memorable night at Hampden marked merely Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could prove to be his final assignment. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, whereas almost all spectators expected his spell would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a pathway opening - and remarkably, the man previously criticized of being unrealistic proved correct.

36 months and four days, Spain moved to within touching distance of global football participation, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive official game unbeaten, matching the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

During an evening when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain defeated Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a perfect dozen from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Arsenal playmaker and occasional striker netted the first two goals and could have earned his second three-goal haul in three Spain matches but after brought down in the final minute, he selflessly passed the spot-kick to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was La Real striker, goal-getter of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's golden generation achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, you might have noticed the asterisk, and correctly so. Although FIFA may not classify it as a loss, during this impressive run Spain did lose once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. Yet formally at least, this present team has matched that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and reached a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

This was "only" versus Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team scored their opening goals – the third strike being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a solitary shot on target.

The total statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain demonstrably being Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as they could. Ultimately, that resistance lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive simultaneously: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of utmost subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive as well.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unnoticed into the penalty box once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had previously lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

An cleverly weighted pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a precise lay-off saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a proper contact, volleying wide.

But then, shortly after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, then had the advantage. The heat map appeared like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Brief Resistance

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football great. And the initial occasion Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they might have equalized, Kiril Despodov suddenly breaking away and striking the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had three opportunities in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The cross from the left was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to do laps around the flagpost.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria escaped again, Despodov played through and sending his and their second shot wide and nevertheless the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Still it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the legs and stepping aside to let Oyarzabal blast in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.