Spain 7-0 Costa Rica: Tiki-taka is back
La Roja displayed its best football with a squad full of young talents to destroy Costa Rica, who didn’t shoot
The best performance of Spain in an opening game of a major tournament was more than enough to secure a win against Costa Rica. The Ticos match plan didn’t work, as they changed their usual 4-4-2 formation for a 5-4-1, giving their rivals the chance to play most of the time in their half of the pitch.
Luis Enrique’s side started the game dominating in possession and creating big chances. Dani Olmo and Marco Asensio had the opportunity to score, but their shots from inside the box fell wide of the post. Despite this, Spain scored the first goal in the 11th minute after a great move from Dani Olmo. The forward took advantage of a great Pedri’s pass to find the net after chipping Keylor Navas.
The opener only gave La Roja more confidence in the game. The Ticos tried to use long balls looking for Anthony Contreras and pressed high a couple of times, but they didn’t have success due to the great ability their rivals had to always find the best option in terms of passing.
Spain was playing with a high number of players in the second half of the pitch and scored the 2-0 in the 21st minute. Jordi Alba made his classic cross into the box and found Marco Asensio, who hit the net with a good first touch shot into the far post. Keylor Navas, who hasn’t played in the last five months for Paris Saint Germain, could have done more to make a save.
Spain didn’t stop attacking and as a result they got the third in the 31st minute. They recovered the ball inside the box and Óscar Duarte committed a penalty after kicking Jordi Alba’s ankle. Ferran Torres took the responsability and didn’t miss his opportunity to score.
Costa Rica crossed the halfway line a few times but couldn’t find the target. The Central American were defending too deep and struggled to hold the ball when Spain lost the possession during the game.
After half time, Spain didn’t take risks with the ball on their feet and Costa Rica changed their formation to a 5-3-2 and after that to a 4-4-2 to try to find their two strikers with long balls.
In the minute 53, Torres hit the double after a defensive mistake from their rivals. Navas went off the five yard box to clear the ball, but the FC Barcelona striker was faster to control, turn back and score with a low shot.
Costa Rica didn’t have a chance in the whole game. The Ticos tried to move forward several times but they didn’t have the ability to break the Spanish lines in the midfield.
Luis Enrique’s team didn’t slow down and scored the fifth goal of the evening in the 74th minute. Álvaro Morata, who went into the pitch for Asensio, made a great cross that found Gavi in the box. The 18 year-old midfielder didn’t let the ball bounce on the turf and scored a great volley that touched the post before going in.
Carlos Soler and Morata joined the party in the added time. Soler didn’t miss his chance after a bad deflection of his teammate Keylor Navas, while the latter found the net after a great combination with Dani Olmo inside the box.
The final whistle came with a record-breaking result. It’s the first time that Spain score seven goals in a World Cup and the worst defeat in Costa Rica’s history.
La Roja will have the opportunity to secure a spot in the next round if they win Germany on Sunday. Costa Rica will have to perform better if they want to have chances facing Japan, who have shocked the world after beating the Die Mannschaft earlier today.
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