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Everything commenced in Scotland and the momentum continues. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's head coach; numerous observers thought it might prove to be his last match in charge. Although a pair of Scott McTominay goals defeating La Furia Roja, whereas virtually everyone expected his spell would be short-lived, the coach spoke about a pathway emerging - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic proved right.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced to within touching distance of global football qualification, and also achieving their twenty-ninth consecutive competitive game without defeat, equaling the legendary record.

Pedri's Influence and Merino's Impact

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder played and Mikel Merino created the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate a perfect dozen from twelve in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' midfielder and occasional forward scored the first two goals and could have earned his second consecutive hat-trick in three recent Spain matches but after fouled in the final minute, he generously handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad striker, scorer of the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the impressive sequence, equaling what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad accomplished between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, you might have observed the asterisk, and rightly so. While FIFA might not classify it as a loss, during this remarkable run Spain did suffer defeat once – 7-5 on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final back in June. However formally at least, this present team has equaled that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in thirty days and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they won the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 ranked number one, among the frontrunners once more, just like previous eras.

Total Control

This was "only" against Bulgaria, admittedly, similar to previous matches against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. Occurred two moments immediately after La Selección scored their first two goals – the third being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been permitted a single shot on target.

The total statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had admitted the sole objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. As it turned out, that resistance lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target already.

Pedri's Masterclass

The display was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, unable to detect him as he flitted through their defense. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on 66 minutes, and his were the moments of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the José Zorrilla sang his name during the opening period, he had just drifted unmarked into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already lifted a magnificent pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had set Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his shot. He received a opportunity of his own only to fail to find a clean contact, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand headed across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, then had the lead. The positioning chart looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint half way through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the uncertainty, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the initial occasion Bulgaria got into Spain's half they might have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and striking the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple chances in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The cross from the left flank was excellent from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above all defenders, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to do laps round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived once more, Despodov played through and sending his and their following shot wide and nevertheless the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the incorrect goal, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing tenure.