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Merino scores a hat-trick as Spain defeat Turkey

International

![Mikel Merino v Turkey](/sites/default/files/styles/large_16x9/public/images/Mikel-meirno-1290-Recovered-Recovered_q7si4tnj.png?h=05b9a346&auto=webp&itok=LNbQ2mW_)

Mikel Merino scored a superb hat-trick to help Spain defeat Turkey in their World Cup qualifier in Konya.

Our midfielder netted his first of the night on 22 minutes before rounding off a fine team move just before half-time to double his tally.

Mikel rounded off his hat-trick in superb fashion, curling home from range to make it 5-0 on the night. Ferran Torres and Pedri scored the other goals in the 6-0 victory for La Roya.

**Martin Zubimendi** also started the contest, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Rodri. **David Raya** was an unused substitute. 

The result leaves Spain top of Group E on six points, with Merino having scored four of their nine goals in the group so far.

Elsewhere, **Leandro Trossard** started Belgium's comfortable victory over Kazakhstan. Leo played 63 minutes before being replaced by Malick Fofana. Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku scored twice with Nicolas Raskin and Thomas Meunier also netting to give Rudi Garcia's side all three points in Brussels.

Belgium are now second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia with a game in hand.

**Jurrien Timber** was a second half substitute in the Netherlands' 3-2 win over Lithuania. Memphis Depay and Jurrien's brother, Quinten, put the Dutch into a 2-0 lead before the hosts fought back through Gvidas Gineitis and Edvinas Girdvainis. Jurrien was introduced on 62 minutes and one minute later, the Netherlands had their winner through Depay.

The victory keeps the Netherlands top of Group G, level on points with Poland.

**Thursday, September 4** Norway 1-0 Finland

Friendly | Odegaard played 45 minutes

Liechtenstein 0-6 Belgium

World Cup qualifier | Trossard played 23 minutes as a substitute

Bulgaria 0-3 Spain

World Cup qualifier | Merino scored, Zubimendi assisted, Raya an unused sub

Netherlands 1-1 Poland

World Cup qualifier | Timber an unused sub

Gibraltar 0-1 Albania 

Friendly | Kacurri played the full 90 minutes

**Friday, September 5**Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador

World Cup qualifier | Hincapie played full 90 minutes

Brazil 3-0 Chile

World Cup qualifier | Gabriel played full 90 minutes, Martinelli played 72 minutes

Spain U21 (Mosquera) 3-0 Cyprus 

Euro U21 qualifier | Mosquera played full 90 minutes

Italy 5-0 Estonia 

World Cup qualifier | Calafiori played full 90 minutes

Slovenia 2-2 Sweden

World Cup qualifier | Gyokeres played full 90 minutes, provided an assist

**Saturday, September 6**  England 2-0 Andorra

World Cup qualifier | Rice scored and Madueke assisted. Eze and Lewis-Skelly also started at Villa Park

**Sunday, September 7** Lithuania 2-3 Netherlands (Timber) 

World Cup qualifier | Timber played the last 28 minutes

Belgium 6-0 Kazakhstan

World Cup qualifier | Trossard started, played 63 minutes

Turkey 0-6 Spain (Raya, Merino, Zubimendi) 

World Cup qualifier | Merino scored a hat-trick, Zubimendi played 72 minutes, Raya an unused substitute

**Monday, September 8** Kazakhstan U21 v England U21 (Nwaneri)

Euro U21 Qualifier | Pavlodar | 4pm

Israel v Italy (Calafiori) 

World Cup qualifier | Debrecen, Hungary | 7.45pm

Kosovo v Sweden (Gyokeres) 

World Cup qualifier | Pristina | 7.45pm

**Tuesday, September 9**  Kosovo v Spain U21 (Mosquera)

Euro U21 qualifier | Pristina | 6pm

Norway v Moldova (Odegaard) 

World Cup qualifier | Oslo | 7.45pm

Serbia v England (Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Eze, Madueke) 

World Cup qualifier | Belgrade | 7.45pm

Albania (Kacurri) v Lativa

World Cup qualifier | Tirana | 7.45pm

**Wednesday, September 10** Ecuador (Hincapie) v Argentina

World Cup qualifier | Guayaquil | 12am

Bolivia v Brazil (Gabriel, Martinelli)  

World Cup qualifier | El Alto | 12:30am

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