Spain moved closer to securing a World Cup spot with a convincing 3-0 win Saturday over Italy after a remarkable performance by Real Madrid forward Francisco "Isco" Alarcon. The result in Madrid ended Italy's 11-year, 56-game unbeaten run in all qualifiers, and extended Spain's own run without a loss in World Cup qualifying to 60 matches. Spain's last loss in World Cup qualifying was in 1993. Without its best player, Algeria lost 3-1 in Zambia in World Cup qualifying on Saturday to stay last in its group. The North Africans are one of three teams that represented Africa at the last World Cup which are highly unlikely to repeat in 2018.

Source: CBC News September 02, 2017 23:15 UTC