Spain launched their bid to carry a second World Cup in spectacular type on Wednesday by shredding Costa Rica 7-0 in a brutal show which is able to function a warning to their rivals.
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Avoiding the destiny of each giants Argentina and Group E rivals Germany, who misplaced 2-1 to Japan earlier on, Luis Enrique’s fancied aspect sparkled at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium, dominating possession and taking their possibilities mercilessly.
Ferran Torres netted twice and Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata had been additionally on the scoresheet for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists in an emphatic romp.
Despite incomes Spain’s greatest ever World Cup win, Luis Enrique mentioned his staff may nonetheless enhance.
“Our objective is to continuously dominate the play, and for that you have to have the ball,” Luis Enrique advised TVE.
“Your opponent gets tired and can’t get into it, our pressing was exceptional and the 16 players we used were superb — although we still have room to improve.”
In the past the 2010 World Cup winners have paid the value for profligacy however all three forwards Luis Enrique chosen netted within the first half to pay again his belief in them.
The coach positioned Asensio at false 9, flanked by Olmo and Torres, beginning with Morata and Ansu Fati on the bench.
The coach opted to deploy Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez in central defence, alongside membership team-mate Aymeric Laporte, appropriately anticipating his staff would monopolise the ball.
“Spain was much better than us, that’s obvious, they kept possession throughout the match,” mentioned Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez.
“They performed within the remaining third for a lot of the sport and we did the precise reverse. We didn’t assault, we didn’t hold possession and once we had it we didn’t defend it.
“Spain played an amazing game. We didn’t.”
– No mercy –
It took solely 11 minutes for La Roja to open the scoring, with Gavi feeding Olmo, with the RB Leipzig winger taking one elegant contact to show and one other to stroke the ball gently past Keylor Navas.
Olmo’s strike was Spain’s one hundredth World Cup objective, with La Roja turning into the sixth staff to hit that milestone.
Costa Rica, who had been a shock package deal on the 2014 World Cup, beating Italy and Uruguay and drawing with England to high their group, had been rapidly sliced aside once more.
Jordi Alba’s low drilled cross was rammed residence by Real Madrid ahead Asensio past his former team-mate Navas, who might need performed extra to maintain it out.
Torres stroked residence from the penalty spot after Alba was fouled by Oscar Duarte –- a mushy name on a tough night time for Los Ticos, who had been by no means within the sport and didn’t muster a shot at objective.
Barcelona ahead Torres capitalised on extra slack defending to fireplace the fourth past Navas early within the second half.
Luis Enrique was in a position to take off the bubbling Pedri and Torres earlier than the hour mark, and handed teenage Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde his debut.
The 19-year-old roared up the pitch within the build-up to Spain’s fifth objective, with substitute Morata crossing for Gavi to drill residence with aplomb.
Kopa Trophy winner Gavi grew to become the third youngest goalscorer at a World Cup at 18 years and 110 days outdated, after Mexico’s Manuel Rosas and report holder Pele.
Soler and Morata then bought in on the act with stoppage-time strikes to pile additional distress on Costa Rica and assist Spain flex their muscle tissues in an ideal opening match in Qatar.
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