Spain vs Costa Rica Highlights: Spain start World Cup campaign with a 7-0 win against Costa Rica | Football News

NEW DELHI: Favorites Spain issued a warning to their rivals by hammering Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday in their Group E opener of the fifa world cup 2022 at Al Thumama Stadium in Qatar. The margin of victory is the largest ever recorded by Spain at a World Cup. And it was the heaviest defeat for the Central American side.
Ferran Torres scored twice for the 2010 world champions and, along with five other strikers, made it a masterclass in scoring goals. It was a completely one-sided match, with Costa Rica failing to register a single attempt on goal.
Avoiding the fate of Argentinian giants and group rivals Germany, who had lost 1-2 to Japan earlier, Luis Enrique’s whimsical side shone in Doha, dominating possession and trying their luck mercilessly .

Apart from Torres, who scored twice, Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata were also on the Euro 2020 semi-finalist scoresheet in emphatic play.
In the past, the 2010 World Cup winners have paid the price for their profligacy, but the three forwards selected by Luis Enrique scored in the first half to restore his confidence.
The coach placed Asensio at the false nine, flanked by Olmo and Torres, starting with Morata and Ansu Fati on the bench.
The manager opted to deploy Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez in central defence, alongside club team-mate Aymeric Laporte, rightly anticipating his side would monopolize the ball.

It took just 11 minutes for La Roja to open the scoring, with Gavi stabbing a forward pass for Olmo to receive in the box and the RB Leipzig winger taking a sublime touch to spin and another to gently caress the ball in front of Keylor Navas.
Costa Rica, who were a surprise package at the 2014 World Cup, beating Italy and Uruguay and drawing with England at the top of their group, were again separated for the second goal 10 minutes later.
Jordi Alba’s drilled low cross was rammed by Real Madrid striker Asensio in front of his former team-mate Navas, who might have done more to keep him out.
Torres headed home from the penalty spot after Alba was fouled by Oscar Duarte – a soft call on a difficult night for Los Ticos, who have never been in the game and failed to muster a shot on goal.

Barcelona striker Torres took advantage of a looser defense to fire fourth Navas early in the second half.
Luis Enrique managed to remove the effervescent Pedri and Torres before the hour mark to rest them for Sunday’s clash with Germany, and gave Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde his debut.
The 19-year-old burst onto the pitch in the build-up to Spain’s fifth goal, with substitute Morata crossing for Gavi to drill home with aplomb.
Winner of the Kopa Trophy, Gavi became the third youngest goalscorer at a World Cup at 18 years and 110 days, after Mexico’s Manuel Rosas and record holder Pelé.
Soler and Morata then came on with strikes in stoppage time to add to the misery in Costa Rica and help muscle Spain into a perfect opener in Qatar.
With the win, Spain moved to the top of the standings with three points, ahead of Japan on goal difference. They will face an “injured” German side on Monday.
(With agency contributions)