World Cup winner of 2010 constructed its triumph on an incessant passing recreation that left the rival chasing shadows, and its document 7-0 demolition of Costa Rica on Wednesday suggests it’s again to its greatest, with added scoring menace besides.
While the Central Americans provided little to check the younger however already battle-hardened Spain facet, the best way the Reds tore by way of Costa Rica’s defensive strains with motion and quick-fire exchanges despatched a warning to the remainder of the groups in Qatar.
Coach Luis Enrique and his gamers went into their opening Group E match making an attempt to minimize expectations, saying Costa Rica was famend for its cussed defending.
But simply over half an hour into the sport on the Al Thumama Stadium, the Costa Ricans had already been blown away and have been 3-0 down after objectives from Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio and a Ferran Torres penalty.
Luis Enrique gave a few of his first-choice gamers a relaxation within the second half earlier than their subsequent recreation on Sunday towards Germany which might be determined for a win after its shock defeat by Japan earlier on Wednesday.
Unfortunately for Costa Rica, the modifications did nothing to sluggish Spain’s rhythm with substitute Alvaro Morata – edged out of the beginning facet by Marco Asensio – teeing up 18-year-old Gavi’s nice volley earlier than scoring in damage time himself.
A second purpose for Torres early within the second half and one for an additional substitute, Carlos Soler, had already put Spain far out of sight because it racked up its largest ever win on the World Cup.
Several members of Spain’s youthful facet – the joint third-youngest in Qatar – had already proved its talents final 12 months when it was knocked out of the Euros on the semi-finals on penalties.
The addition of Gavi, who at 18 is the youngest participant to look for the nationwide facet at a World Cup, and others reminiscent of Barcelona teammate Ansu Fati, recommend that Luis Enrique is constructing a brand new European powerhouse.
Olmos, who obtained the objectives flowing, dismissed options that the outcome mirrored a scarcity of competitiveness by Costa Rica who fielded a number of veterans of previous campaigns.
“I don’t think it was a question of Costa Rica being bad. It was about our team being strong,” Olmos instructed reporters.
“I think the win was what we were due. We deserved to win after taking the game to them. I think our team is strong and that is the path that we need to follow. It was a confidence boost for sure.”