Spain v Iraq Prediction: 7/4 La Roja to strike early at Riazor

Spain are much fancied to win the World Cup in North America and they continue their preparations with a meeting with fellow finalists Iraq at Deportivo La Coruna's Riazor on Thursday.

Iraq are gearing up for just their second ever World Cup finals appearance and being drawn in Group I with France, Norway, and Senegal means that they are facing a huge challenge.

La Roja take on Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde in Group H.

Spain v Iraq Tips Summary

Best Bet - Spain to win & Under 3.5 goals @ 6/5
Alternative Bet - Spain highest scoring half - 1st half @ 7/4
Bet Builder - Spain to win to nil, Ferran Torres to score & Mikel Oyarzabal to score @ 7/2

Spain v Iraq Prediction

Best Bet: Spain to win & Under 3.5 goals @ 6/5

The only two goals Spain conceded during World Cup qualifying came in a final-round clash with Turkey when top spot was all but secured and their defensive solidity should play a role in what could be a relatively low-scoring affair.

La Roja have won six of their last eight games without conceding and four of these games have featured fewer than four goals.

Iraq have not conceded more than twice in any of their last 16 games and, while they have not faced a side of Spain's quality in this period, they are likely to play with their backs to the wall against the star-studded favourites.

Under 3.5 goals has landed in each of the Lions of Mesopotamia's last 15 matches, so don't expect them to get blown away in La Coruna.

Alternative Bet: Spain highest scoring half - 1st half @ 7/4

Iraq may set out to frustrate the Spain attack, but Luis de la Fuente's side have been fast starters in recent times and they should put the game beyond doubt in the first half.

Fourteen of La Roja's last 24 goals have been scored before the break and the first half has been their highest scoring half in two of their last three games.

Three of the four goals Iraq have conceded across their last four matches have also been scored in the first 45 minutes, so Spain look good value to make a promising start in La Coruna.

Spain v Iraq Bet Builder Tip

• Spain to win to nil

• Ferran Torres to score

• Mikel Oyarzabal to score

  Pays 16/5

Spain's attackers understandably get most of the plaudits, but the control they exert on games comes from further back and the result is often a paucity of opposition chances.

They have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight games and another is expected against an Iraq side who failed to score in defeats to Jordan and Algeria in their last four assignments.

With Lamine Yamal currently working his way back to full fitness, another Barcelona star should get a chance to press his claims for a major role at the upcoming World Cup finals.

Ferran Torres passed the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career in the domestic season just ended and has a healthy 23 goals to his name from 55 appearances for La Roja.

Team-mate Mikel Oyarzabal is the top goalscorer in La Roja's World Cup squad and is coming into this off the back of a career-best 15 La Liga goals this season.

He has scored eight goals in his last eight appearances for his country, while 17 of his 24 international goals have been scored since the start of 2024.

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Key Match Stats

• Spain have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight games

• Under 3.5 goals has landed in Iraq's last 15 matches

• Mikel Oyarzabal has scored 17 goals for Spain since the start of 2024

• Fourteen of Spain's last 24 goals have been scored in the first half

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.