España arrasa por 7-0 a Costa Rica, su mayor goleada en un Mundial / Spain Thrash Costa Rica 7-0, Record Their Biggest World Cup Win Ever

Doha (EFE).- La selección española vapuleó por 7-0 a Costa Rica y logró así su mayor goleada de su historia en un Mundial, una victoria que relanza la ilusión de la «roja» por lograr algo grande en Qatar 2022.

En el primer partido de ambos equipos en esta Copa del Mundo, España pasó por encima de Costa Rica. El marcador lo abrió en el minuto 11 Dani Olmo en una sensacional jugada personal, picando el balón por encima de Oscar Duarte antes de culminar.

Marco Asensio, con un disparo de rosca, amplió la ventaja de los de Luis Enrique en el 21; y Ferrán Torres, de penalti, diez minutos después, colocó el 3-0 con el que se llegó al descanso.

Ferrán acabó con un doblete al volver a anotar en el minuto 54, y Gavi colocó el 5-0 en el 74 gracias a un disparo de volea ajustado al poste.

Un once con sorpresas

Ya en el tramo final, Carlos Soler, en el 90, y Morata, en el 92, redondearon el marcador, dejándolo en el definitivo 7-0 para el equipo que dirige Luis Enrique, quien apostó para este estreno mundialista por jugar de inicio con un centrocampista como Rodri de central y sin un 9 puro.

El abultado resultado supuso al mismo tiempo la victoria más amplia de España en un Mundial y la derrota más severa en ese torneo encajada por Costa Rica.

El equipo «tico» no dio muestras de la seguridad defensiva que sí exhibió en su fase de clasificación, e incluso su portero, Keylor Navas, apenas hizo paradas salvadoras como en otras ocasiones.

Con esta goleada España se coloca por delante de Japón que dio otra sorpresa durante este Mundial al ganar a la poderosa Alemania (1-2) y se coloca primera del grupo E.

Spain Thrash Costa Rica 7-0, Record Their Biggest World Cup Win Ever

Ferran Torres netted twice and Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata were also on the scoresheet for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists in an emphatic romp.

Spain shredded Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday in a brutal destruction in their Group E opener which launched their bid to lift a second World Cup. Avoiding the fate of giants Argentina and group rivals Germany, who lost 2-1 to Japan earlier on, Luis Enrique’s fancied side sparkled at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium, dominating possession and taking their chances mercilessly. Ferran Torres netted twice and Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata were also on the scoresheet for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists in an emphatic romp.

In the past the 2010 World Cup winners have paid the price for profligacy but all three forwards Luis Enrique selected netted in the first half to pay back his trust in them.

The coach placed Asensio at false nine, flanked by Olmo and Torres, starting with Morata and Ansu Fati on the bench.

The coach opted to deploy Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez in central defence, alongside club team-mate Aymeric Laporte, correctly anticipating his team would monopolise the ball.

It took only 11 minutes for La Roja to open the scoring, with Gavi stabbing a pass forward for Olmo to receive in the area and the RB Leipzig winger taking one sublime touch to turn and another to stroke the ball gently past Keylor Navas.

Costa Rica, who were a surprise package at the 2014 World Cup, beating Italy and Uruguay and drawing with England to top their group, were sliced apart again for the second goal 10 minutes later.

Jordi Alba’s low drilled cross was rammed home by Real Madrid forward Asensio past his former team-mate Navas, who might have done more to keep it out.

Torres stroked home from the penalty spot after Alba was fouled by Oscar Duarte –- a soft call on a hard night for Los Ticos, who were never in the game and failed to muster a shot at goal.

Barcelona forward Torres capitalised on more slack defending to fire the fourth past Navas early in the second half.

Luis Enrique was able to take off the effervescent Pedri and Torres before the hour mark in order to rest them for Sunday’s clash with Germany, and handed teenage Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde his debut.

The 19-year-old roared up the pitch in the build-up to Spain’s fifth goal, with substitute Morata crossing for Gavi to drill home with aplomb.

Kopa Trophy winner Gavi became the third youngest goalscorer at a World Cup at 18 years and 110 days old, after Mexico’s Manuel Rosas and record holder Pele.

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Soler and Morata then got in on the act with stoppage-time strikes to pile further misery on Costa Rica and help Spain flex their muscles in a perfect opening match in Qatar.

Agence France-Presse