Updated at 22.22
LAMINE YAMAL became Spain’s youngest-ever player and goalscorer as La Roja thrashed Georgia 7-1 on Friday to get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign back on track.
Defeat by leaders Scotland in their second game left Spain fourth in Group A but they climbed up to second with a big win in Tbilisi, inspired by an Alvaro Morata hat-trick.
However, despite the Atletico Madrid forward’s treble, the game will be remembered for Yamal’s superb first appearance for his country at 16 years and 57 days old.
The Barcelona teenager came on from the bench with Nico Williams after 43 minutes to replace Marco Asensio and Dani Olmo, who had both suffered knocks, with Spain 4-0 up and cruising.
Yamal finished lethally in the 74th minute to send Spain 7-1 up after Williams found him with a cut-back.
The build-up to the match was tarnished by Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales being suspended by Fifa and charged with sexual assault by Spanish prosecutors, after he forcibly kissed women’s midfielder Jenni Hermoso.
Spain won the women’s World Cup in August but the country’s federation was shellshocked by Rubiales’ actions at the medal ceremony in Sydney and the subsequent fall-out.
Men’s coach Luis de La Fuente led the team to Nations League glory in June to ease the pressure on his shoulders, which was ramped up again after he applauded Rubiales when he refused to resign.
The federation reiterated they backed the coach, who replaced Luis Enrique in December after Spain’s failed World Cup campaign in Qatar.
De la Fuente pledged a similar style but a more direct approach in attack and that was seen in Morata’s opener — the forward headed home Asensio’s cross after 22 minutes.
Spain moved further ahead when Fabian Ruiz’s cross was put through his own net by Solomon Kvirkvelia.
Olmo drilled the third past Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 38th minute and Morata added the fourth after a slick exchange with Ruiz.
Spain were forced to change both their wingers before half-time and Yamal gratefully grabbed the chance to make history.
Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze drilled past Unai Simon to pull one back for Georgia first, with the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper letting the shot squirm away from him in the rain.
Morata restored Spain’s ample advantage with the aid of a deflection before Williams produced a fine sixth with an individual dribble and finish.
Yamal completed the rout with his own fine strike to make a double dose of history.
Spain face Cyprus in Granada on Tuesday in another Euro 2024 qualifier.
Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes earned Portugal a fifth consecutive triumph in Euro 2024 qualifying, celebrating his 29th birthday with a goal securing a 1-0 win at Slovakia in Bratislava on Friday.
Roberto Martinez’s side have not conceded a goal in Group J, scoring 15, and are five points clear of their opponents who are second after being beaten for the first time.
“We knew it would be complicated but we managed to unlock the game,” Fernandes told Portuguese broadcaster RTP.
“We needed to have a little more of the ball, to be more patient.”
With veteran defender Pepe, 40, injured, the Portugal coach selected 19-year-old Benfica defender Antonio Silva alongside Ruben Dias at the centre of defence.
Cristiano Ronaldo, making his 201st Portugal appearance at the age of 38, scored against Slovakia back in 2005 in a World Cup qualifier, one of a record 850 career goals, but could not add to the tally on this occasion.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward made his Portugal debut back in 2003 and has more international goals, with 123, and appearances than any other player.
Ronaldo had his arms up in anguish after Fernandes shot instead of passing after a Slovakia defensive mix-up, with Martin Dubravka saving the midfielder’s low effort.
It was one of few chances in a cagey first half, with Slovakia keeping things tight, although the hosts could have gone ahead when Lukas Haraslin brushed the outside of the near post with a fierce drive.
Moments later Fernandes sent Portugal ahead, drilling home from a tight angle into the far corner, his third goal of the qualifying campaign sending the visitors in ahead at the break.
Ronaldo miscued after an hour when he might have doubled Portugal’s lead and then slid in on Dubravka while trying to turn home the loose ball to earn a yellow card.
The forward will be suspended for the Euro 2016 winners’ next game, against Luxembourg on Monday.
Ronaldo missed another good chance when well placed with 15 minutes remaining when Dubravka saved his near post effort comfortably, but Portugal held on for the win.
“Our focus is on the next game,” added Fernandes, when asked if the team were sure they would qualify.
“We know what it takes to be at the Euros, but what we want is to win every game.”
Euro 2024 qualifying results on Friday:
Group A
Georgia 1 (Chakvetadze 49) Spain 7 (Morata 22, 40, 66, Kvirkvelia 27-og, Olmo 38, Williams 68, Yamal 74)
Cyprus 0 Scotland 3 (McTominay 6, Porteous 16, J. McGinn 30)
Group D
Croatia 5 (Petkovic 3, 44, Ivanusec 13, Kramaric 68, Pasalic 78) Latvia 0
Turkey 1 (Bertug Yildirim 88) Armenia 1 (Dashyan 49)
Group J
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 (Dzeko 3, Lüchinger 18-og) Liechtenstein 1 (S. Wolfinger 21)
Luxembourg 3 (Chanot 9-pen, Borges Sanches 70, Da. Sinani 89) Iceland 1 (Haraldsson 88)
Slovakia 0 Portugal 1 (Bruno Fernandes 43)
