Spain ensured they weren’t the newest high-profile nation to fall sufferer to a World Cup upset by thrashing Costa Rica on Wednesday.
The earlier consequence in Group E noticed Germany lose to Japan in one of many shocks of the event thus far, however Luis Enrique’s males took complete management of their first match from the off.
Spain got here near taking a fifth-minute lead when Pedri’s superbly weighted ball excessive of the Costa Rica defence met Dani Olmo, whose cushioned strike went simply vast.
Pedri once more was the creator of Spain’s subsequent likelihood moments later, this time teeing up makeshift striker Marco Asensio, however the Real Madrid ahead was unable to direct his effort in direction of objective.
La Roja went forward with simply 11 minutes on the clock via Olmo, whose intelligent one-two with Gavi excessive of the defence labored a deal with, and the RB Leipzig star brilliantly introduced the ball again down previous Francisco Calvo earlier than dinking over a helpless Keylor Navas.
That benefit was doubled halfway via the primary half when Jordi Alba’s cutback was delicately swept residence by Asensio, with former club-mate Navas solely getting a glove on the shot.
Oscar Duarte conceded a penalty simply earlier than the half-hour mark when his legs bought in a tangle with Alba’s, and Ferran Torres stored his nerve from the spot so as to add Spain’s third of the day.
Spain notched up their fourth a couple of minutes after the restart. Francisco Calvo and Bryan Oviedo each didn’t take care of a Torres dribble deep into their very own field, with the Barcelona winger pinching the ball again and slotting previous Navas.
Gavi volleyed in the fifth with 1 / 4 of an hour remaining, racing into the penalty space and hanging with the surface of his boot to fulfill Alvaro Morata’s cross and grow to be Spain’s youngest scorer in World Cup historical past.
Spain’s sixth objective got here in the final minute of regular time. A low cross from Nico Williams was spilled by Navas, permitting Carlos Soler to smash in the rebound.
The last objective of the rout was completed by Morata in stoppage time as Costa Rica’s day of distress got here to an finish.
GK: Unai Simon – 6/10 – Had very, little or no to do. Acted as one other outfielder as Enrique insists.
RB: Cesar Azpilicueta – 6/10 – There had been a couple of eyebrows raised when he was named in the beginning XI. In hindsight, such a walkover was excellent for Azpilicueta to return in for the unwell Dani Carvajal.
CB: Rodri – 6/10 – Enrique clearly would not belief a number of his centre-back choices, beginning a pure midfielder in defence.
CB: Aymeric Laporte – 6/10 – Had an early miscommunication with Busquets however was fantastic from there on in.
LB: Jordi Alba – 8/10 – Like Azpilicueta, there have been questions over Alba’s continued involvement with the Spain setup, however he rolled again the years with a basic lung-busting efficiency right here.
DM: Sergio Busquets – 7/10 – Another of Enrique’s previous guard who appeared proper at residence in such recreation performed at their very own tempo.
CM: Gavi – 10/10 – How about that for a serious event debut? Gavi flittered between the strains and appeared the spit of the legendary midfielders who preceded him.
CM: Pedri – 8/10 – Ditto. Spain’s future is in secure palms as lengthy as the Barcelona duo stay match.
RW: Ferran Torres – 8/10 – The quietest of Spain’s entrance three however nonetheless scored twice had pleasure operating down each flanks.
CF: Marco Asensio – 8/10 – Whether operating in behind or dropping deep, Asensio appeared like a pure centre ahead and gave Costa Rica’s defenders complications all through.
LW: Dani Olmo – 9/10 – Worked completely in tandem along with his fellow attackers and supporting-cast midfielders.
SUB: Alvaro Morata (57′ for Torres) – 8/10
SUB: Carlos Soler (57′ for Pedri) – 7/10
SUB: Alejandro Balde (64′ for Alba) – 7/10
SUB: Koke (64′ for Busquets) – 6/10
SUB: Neco Williams (69′ for Asensio) – 7/10
Manager: Luis Enrique – 9/10 – The preferrred begin. Enrique’s choice selections had been vindicated and his gamers put in a high efficiency.
GK: Keylor Navas – 2/10 – Should have most likely executed higher with Spain’s second objective. Helpless regardless.
RB: Carlos Martinez – 1/10 – Torn inside-out by Olmo earlier than being hooked at half-time. A day to overlook.
CB: Oscar Duarte – 1/10 – Got too tight to Alba when giving freely the penalty.
CB: Francisco Calvo – 2/10 – Only marginally higher than Duarte in that he didn’t give away a penalty.
LB: Bryan Oviedo – 2/10 – One of Costa Rica’s extra skilled heads wasn’t a lot use at both finish.
RM: Keysher Fuller – 1/10 – Naturally a right-back, Fuller did little to assist Martinez in their battles with Olmo, Torres and Alba.
CM: Celso Borges – 3/10 – Did little to win the midfield battle, although that was comprehensible up in opposition to Gavi, Pedri and Busquets.
CM: Yeltsin Tejeda – 3/10 – Yeah, severely, this was a battle they only weren’t going to win.
LM: Jewison Bennette – 4/10 – Looked vigorous on the break however had little help.
CF: Joel Campbell – 2/10 – Like Oviedo was unable to make his 2014 expertise depend.
CF: Anthony Contreras – 3/10 – Anonymous all through.
SUB: Kendall Waston (46′ for Martinez) – 2/10
SUB: Alvaro Zamora (62′ for Contreras) – 2/10
SUB: Bryan Ruiz (62′ for Bennette) – 2/10
SUB: Brandon Aguilera (72′ for Borges) – N/A
SUB: Ronald Matarrita (82′ for Oviedo) – N/A
Manager: Luis Suarez – 3/10 – There’s not a lot he may have executed about such an early collapse, however Costa Rica appeared hopeless all through.