With a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica in their opening 2022 World Cup match on Wednesday night, Spain has risen to the top of Group E.
Spain, who defeated Costa Rica with ease, has replaced Japan as the group’s top team. Japan shocked Germany in the opening match of the group with a 2-1 victory to move to the top spot.
In a commanding performance, Ferran Torres scored twice, and the 2010 world champions also had goals from Olmo, Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler, and Alvaro Morata.
On Sunday, Luis Enrique’s team will play a wounded Germany to continue their Group E campaign, while Costa Rica will be looking to avenge their defeat against Japan the same day.
In the fifth minute, when Olmo connected with Pedri’s deep cross, Spain had a golden opportunity to take the lead. However, Olmo’s volley missed the far post. Asensio, a centre-forward who started for Real Madrid, was then set up by Pedri in the eighth minute, but he narrowly missed the far post as La Roja took control of the game at the time.
In the 11th minute, Olmo received a pass from Gavi, turned, and produced a stunning finish over Keylor Navas, who was closing in. In the 21st minute, Asensio doubled Spain’s advantage by sweeping in a low Jordi Alba cross. Despite getting a hand on the ball, Navas was powerless to stop it.
In the 29th minute of the game, Oscar Duarte, who could not help but challenge the Barcelona defender, brought down Alba, earning Enrique’s team a penalty. The player who stepped up was Torres, who made it 3-0 by sending Navas the wrong way from the penalty spot, ending the game for Costa Rica before the end of the first half.
Asensio, who once again broke into a dangerous position, had Spain’s final chance of the opening frame, but Duarte did just enough to stop the attacker, leaving the score at 3-0 at the break.
In the opening moments of the second half, Asensio missed Costa Rica’s crossbar with a shot, but in the 54th minute, Torres finished under Navas after some shaky defending by Los Ticos. This gave Spain a four-goal lead.
In the period that followed, both coaches made adjustments, with Enrique protecting his star players for the Germany match and Costa Rica’s focus shifting to their upcoming match with Japan.
Alvaro Morata, one of those subs, missed the goal post for Costa Rica in the 64th minute, but Gavi’s brilliant volley of a Morata cross into the bottom corner in the 74th minute brought about the fifth goal. In the waning seconds, Soler’s close-range shot past Navas made it five, then sixth, before Morata’s deft finish after a combination with Olmo made it seven.
With a chance of securing a second gold star to the La Roja jersey, they are once again among the favourites in Qatar. Expectations won’t be significantly reduced by this victory. As Spain advances in this World Cup, expect much of the same, but tougher tests are still to come. After playing Germany on Sunday, they play Japan on Thursday to wrap up their group stage.
FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE ON TWITTER
READ MORE;
Germany 1-2 Japan : The Germans are beaten by Samurai Blues
France 4-1 Australia : Giroud scores a brace in opening match for defending champions
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia : Saudis stun Argentina with a remarkable comeback