Luis Enrique’s spirited Spain started their 2022 FIFA World Cup journey with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Costa Rica on the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday evening (23 November). Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Alvaro Morata, Carlos Soler, and Gavi every scored a objective in Spain’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Group E opener, whereas Ferran Torres netted a brace.
Enrique’s facet wasted no time stepping into the groove. They handed the ball round swiftly and evaded Costa Rican tackles, irritating the opposition with their motion and consciousness. They created their first goalscoring alternative after simply 5 minutes of play.
Olmo met Pedri’s completely weighted supply on the far publish. Unmarked, Olmo went for objective with a side-footed effort, however couldn’t hold it on course. 4 minutes later, Asensio tried his luck from the middle. Like Olmo, the Actual Madrid ahead additionally did not hold his shot on course.
Spain’s relentless strain lastly paid off within the eleventh minute, when Olmo exquisitely managed Gavi’s deflected go and dinked the ball over Keylor Navas and into the netting. Ten minutes later, Asensio put his magical left foot to make use of, making use of a first-time end to Jordi Alba’s low ball from the left channel.
Simply earlier than the half-hour mark, Costa Rican centre-back Oscar Duarte needlessly introduced down Alba contained in the field. The referee, with out hesitation, pointed to the spot. Barcelona ace Torres dispatched a assured penalty to place Spain 3-0 up. The Spaniards ended the primary half with a whopping 85% possession, finishing 537 passes.
9 minutes into the second 45, the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners stretched their result in 4-0. Torres capitalized on Costa Rica’s lackluster defending to fit the ball previous a helpless Navas from shut vary. Enrique made a flurry of substitutions, however that didn’t dampen the heavyweight’s fashion of play in any method. They continued to torment the opposition with their intricate touches and inch-perfect passes.
Within the 74th minute, substitute Morata clipped the ball for Gavi simply contained in the field. The 18-year-old utilized an outstanding first-time end to make it 5-0 for Spain. The occasion, nevertheless, had not fairly ended for La Roja. Substitute Soler scored the sixth within the ninetieth minute earlier than Morata bagged the seventh three minutes later.
It was an announcement Spanish win on the Al Thumama Stadium, with the 2010 winners bagging their biggest-ever victory on the FIFA World Cup. Listed below are 5 Spain stars who stood out of their assertive win over Costa Rica on Wednesday:
#5 Gavi
At 18 years and 108 days, Gavi grew to become the youngest World Cup debutant for Spain on Wednesday evening. Within the 74th minute, he grew to become the youngest Spanish participant to attain on the event. Receiving a dinked go from Morata simply contained in the field, Gavi confidently dispatched a shocking outside-the-boot volley. It clipped the within of the publish earlier than rippling the netting.
On the day he turns into Spain’s youngest-ever participant at a World Cup, 18-year-old Gavi scores an ideal volley 😍 https://t.co/5xQ2lVVv7B
Along with marking his World Cup debut with a shocking objective, Gavi performed a key go, received seven duels, drew 5 fouls, and accomplished 66 passes (90.4% accuracy).
#4 Dani Olmo
His fifth-minute miss apart, Dani Olmo had an ideal sport in opposition to Costa Rica. He demonstrated impeccable management to convey down Gavi’s deflected go within the eleventh minute and utilized an beautiful end to take the ball previous Navas. Olmo additionally performed a neat one-two with Morata to arrange the Atletico Madrid man in damage time.
In opposition to Costa Rica, Olmo additionally performed a key go, received two floor duels, and tried two tackles.
#3 Pedri
Barcelona star Pedri ran the present in the midst of the park for the Spanish Armada. His passing was immaculate, he created goalscoring possibilities at will, and barely misplaced possession (solely thrice). Pedri oozed class in his FIFA World Cup debut, making followers hopeful of a vibrant future.
Pedri’s first half by numbers vs. Costa Rica:96% go accuracy74 touches69 passes completed3 key passes3/4 lengthy balls completed1/1 floor duels wonCreator. 🎨 https://t.co/kfF03zwvA0
On Group E matchday one, Pedri performed three key passes, delivered 4 correct lengthy balls, and received each his floor duels. He additionally accomplished 86 passes (96.6%), tried two tackles, and created an enormous likelihood.
#2 Jordi Alba
Spain’s veteran fullback Jordi Alba not often put a foot mistaken in opposition to Costa Rica on Wednesday. Alba’s passing accuracy, in addition to vary, was beautiful. He held his floor in one-on-one battles. And, most significantly, he performed a direct position in two of La Roja’s three first-half targets.
The Barcelona left-back well picked out Asensio for his Twenty first-minute strike after which received a penalty 10 minutes later, which Torres put away.
Within the eleventh sport of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Alba performed a key go, delivered 5 correct lengthy balls, received three floor duels, and made two interceptions. He additionally accomplished a shocking 100 passes (93.5% accuracy) and accomplished a dribble.
#1 Ferran Torres
Barcelona ahead Ferran Torres had an exquisite FIFA World Cup debut, bagging two well-taken targets. The ahead opened his goalscoring account from the penalty spot within the first half. Torres despatched Navas the mistaken method with a hop on the finish of his run-up and calmly slotted the ball on the left facet of the Costa Rican’s objective.
Torres’ second strike got here within the 54th minute. The previous Manchester Metropolis man confirmed nice consciousness to capitalize on the chaos contained in the Costa Rican field and roll the ball previous a helpless Navas. The brace apart, Torres accomplished a dribble, received two floor duels, and drew a foul.