Spain walked in its debut in the Qatar Cup and thrashed Costa Rica by 7 to 0, this Thursday afternoon (23) at Al Thumama Stadium, for the first round of Group E of the competition.
The perfect start for Spain ??@adidasfootball ?? #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022
It was an uneven duel. Spanish youth against Costa Rican veterans, with several players who participated in the 2014 World Cup (Brazil). If Spain’s ability to renew is impressive, the pace that Luís Enrique’s men put on the field also did not go unnoticed. In fact, with only half an hour of departure, the score already indicated 3 to 0.
At 8 minutes, Asensio had the first clear chance to score, taking a risk from the half moon of the penalty area, with the ball scraping the post of Keylor Navas, goalkeeper remaining from 2014. At 10, there was no way. Making the ball roll from foot to foot, Gavi played for Dani Olmo, who, against Navas, made it 1 to 0. Spain’s possession of the ball already reached 79% in that moment of absolute dominance.
In the 20th minute, Jordi Alba crossed low into the area, Marco Asensio took it first, Navas jumped in, touched the ball, but not enough to prevent the second Spanish goal. The Costa Ricans were knocked out.
The blistering pace even generated a penalty for Spain in the 29th minute, when Jordi Alba was brought down in the area. Ferran Torres went to the penalty spot, moved Navas, ball to one side, goalkeeper to the other: 3 to 0.
?? Ferran Torres couldn’t have asked for a better start to the #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 ?? @SEFutbol pic.twitter.com/JZhpwYYVQW
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022
Such an advantage made the Spanish kids use the famous game of short touches, tiki-taka, which made the world champion team famous in 2010. Thus, in addition to putting Costa Rica in the circle, it increased ball possession and made time pass more fast. In 45 minutes, Spain had the most beautiful game of the World Cup, while the Costa Rican team, at no time, found a way to improve the marking and take the ball.
In the final stage, Asensio continued to command the attack. At 2 minutes, he appeared free in the middle and kicked hard, but the ball went too high. In the 8th minute, Ferran Torres received the ball in the area, faced the defender, waited for Navas to come out at his feet and shot low under the body of the goalkeeper. 4 to 0. It became a rout!
With the immense advantage, coach Luís Enrique began to modify the team and put in the reserves, players even younger than the starters. The pace of the game did not slow down and the quality of the ball remained the same. In the 29th minute, finally, Morata lifted the ball to the entrance of the penalty area, the boy Gavi, 18 years old, took it first, the ball hit the foot of the crossbar and went in. 5 to 0! The Barcelona star showed during the match why his pass is worth more than R$ 5 billion.
?? The future is bright for Spain#FIFAWorldCup ?? #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/2zsXir0ld5
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022
In the 44th minute of the 2nd half, Williams made the cross into the area, Keylor Navas rebounded forward, as one cannot do, and Soler appeared to make it 6 to 0!
For those who wanted even more. Álvaro Morata triangulated and appeared in front of the goal, shot firmly and gave final numbers to the massacre in Doha. 7 to 0. The Spaniards made their biggest rout in World Cups, surpassing the 6 to 1 over Bulgaria, in 1998.
Record-breaking ??
Spain have scored seven goals in a match for the first time at the #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/biyQLQpiGg
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022
In the next round of Group E, on Sunday (27), while Spain plays with the desperate Germans, Costa Rica tries to recover against the surprising Japan.
