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Spain Beats Italy 3-0 to Close in on World Cup

Two first-half strikes by Francisco "Isco" Alarcon helped Spain beat Italy 3-0 Saturday and move closer to securing a World Cup spot.

Isco got the best of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from a free kick early in the game, then outsmarted the Italian defense with a low shot just before halftime at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The result left Spain in control of Group G with 19 points, three more than the Italians, with three games left in European qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Both Italy and Spain had won all their group matches apart from a 1-1 draw against each other in Turin.