For Luis de la Fuente, the main issue is not motivation but availability. The report says Lamine Yamal has been ruled out, while Nico Williams and Mikel Merino remain doubts, leaving Spain potentially short of attacking rhythm and midfield balance.
That matters because Spain are usually judged less on control than on what they do with it. They can dominate the ball against most opponents. The harder part is stretching a defence, creating one-on-one situations out wide and finding enough vertical punch between the lines. If key options are missing, this friendly becomes a live audition for the supporting cast.
Iraq, by contrast, appear to be in calmer shape. The update says there are no major fitness issues hanging over the squad, and that makes this a useful platform rather than a scramble for answers.
Against a possession-heavy side like Spain, the task is obvious: stay compact, defend the middle and attack quickly when space opens.
Friendlies before major tournaments rarely need drama to be important. Spain will want fluency despite the apparent selection concerns. Iraq will want proof that discipline and stability can travel.
The next storyline is simple: when the line-ups drop and the final whistle goes, attention turns fully to the World Cup. For Spain, the question is who steps up if absences bite. For Iraq, it is whether a stable build-up can become tournament momentum.