How Spain Thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 In Group E Opener

Cat:

Related stories

Oil Prices Set For Weekly Loss as War Premium Evaporates

Crude oil prices are on track for a...

List of Top 10 Most Advanced Countries in the World

Most Advanced Countries in the World: Switzerland consistently ranks...

Why African Countries Depend On Foreign Handouts, Aids — Obasanjo

By Kolawole Ojebisi Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has identified a...

Rivers Crisis: How Tinubu Brokered Peace Between Fubara, Pro-Wike Lawmakers

By Kolawole Ojebisi From all indications, President Bola Tinubu may...

Rivers Crisis: How We Resolved Our Rift With Fubara — Wike Reveals

By Kolawole Ojebisi Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and...

In an emphatic romp Terran Torres netted twice, Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata were also on the scoresheet in Group E opener against Costa Rica which launched their bid to lift a second World Cup.

In the past the 2010 World Cup winners have paid the price for profligacy but all three forwards Luis Enrique selected netted in the first half to pay back his trust in them.The coach played Asensio as false nine, flanked by Olmo and Torres, starting with Morata and Ansu Fati on the bench.

The coach opted to deploy Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez in central defence, alongside club team-mate Aymeric Laporte, correctly anticipating his team would monopolise the ball.

It took only 11 minutes for La Roja to open the scoring, with Gavi stabbing a pass forward for Olmo to receive in the area and the RB Leipzig winger taking one sublime touch to turn and another to stroke the ball gently past Keylor Navas.

Costa Rica, who were a surprise package at the 2014 World Cup, beating Italy and Uruguay and drawing with England to top their group, were sliced apart again for the second goal 10 minutes later.

Jordi Alba’s low drilled cross was rammed home by Real Madrid forward Asensio past his former team-mate Navas, who might have done more to keep it out.

Torres stroked home from the penalty spot after Alba was fouled by Oscar Duarte –- a soft call on a hard night for Los Ticos, who were never in the game and failed to muster a shot at goal.

Barcelona forward Torres capitalised on more slack defending to fire the fourth past Navas early in the second half.

Luis Enrique was able to take off the effervescent Pedri and Torres before the hour mark in order to rest them for Sunday’s clash with Germany, and handed teenage Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde his debut.

The 19-year-old roared up the pitch in the build-up to Spain’s fifth goal, with substitute Morata crossing for Gavi to drill home with aplomb.

Kopa Trophy winner Gavi became the third youngest goalscorer at a World Cup at 18 years and 110 days old, after Mexico’s Manuel Rosas and record holder Pele.

Soler and Morata then got in on the act with stoppage-time strikes to pile further misery on Costa Rica and help Spain flex their muscles in a perfect opening match in Qatar.

Oyinlola Awonuga
Oyinlola Awonugahttps://newdiplomatng.com
Oyinlola Awonuga is a trained journalist with skill-set and experience in content curation, content creation, and management across various digital channels . Awonuga is passionate about Entertainment, Style, Fashion and Sports as niche specialties, and she is involved in consistent engagements on various social media platforms, with steady followers online. Her works have also received appreciable recognition from Media Career Development Network, and at her spare time, she monitors developments and reports on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. She loves reading, tracking updates on Entertainment, Style and Sports, and staying abreast of global digital developments.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Oil Prices Set For Weekly Loss as War Premium EvaporatesList of Top 10 Most Advanced Countries in the WorldWhy African Countries Depend On Foreign Handouts, Aids -- ObasanjoRivers Crisis: How Tinubu Brokered Peace Between Fubara, Pro-Wike LawmakersRivers Crisis: How We Resolved Our Rift With Fubara -- Wike RevealsEnergy Projects: Proton Energy Secures Major Funding Deal with AfreximbankFubara vs. Wike: Shehu Sani Expresses Doubt About Resolution, Says Fubara's Loyalists Won't Be HappyPrince Ademola Adeniji-Adele: The Forgotten Hero of June 12 China Launches Phase 2 Deep-Sea Gas Field AddingIran’s foray into fire, By Funke EgbemodePDP's BoT Flays Damagum, Says NEC Meeting Holds, Voids Anyanwu's ReinstatementFG To Nigerians: New Tax Laws Won't Come into Effect Until 2026Tinubu Inks Four Tax Bills Into LawBreaking Down Iran’s Oil Exports by CountryLagos: Sanwo-Olu Refutes Report, Probes Demolition of Peter Obi’s Brother’s Property
X whatsapp