Ferran Torres scored a double, while the likes of Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata netted one goal each to help La Furia Roja secure all three points in their opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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Spain began their 2022 FIFA World Cup with a stunning Seven Star victory against Costa Rica at the Al thumama Stadium on Wednesday night. Luis Enrique’s young guns came out all guns blazing to find the back of the net seven times without reply. Ferran Torres scored a double, while the likes of Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata netted one goal each to help La Furia Roja secure all three points and move to the top of Group E. It was a dominant performance from 2010 world champions as the North American’s failed to create even a single goal-scoring chance. With the likes of Argentina and Germany faltering in the opening round, Spain have certainly made a statement. Meanwhile, Enrique’s decision to start Rodri alongside Aymeric Laporte in the central defence might have surprised a few but the Manchester City player did a fine job at the heart of the back-four and it will be interesting to see whether the Spanish tactician would opt for the same strategy against bigger teams.
🇪🇸 La @SEFutbol 🄷🄰 🄷🄴🄲🄷🄾 🄷🄸🅂🅃🄾🅁🄸🄰 en Doha.
⚽️ El equipo de todos nunca había conseguido un resultado tan abultado en su historia en los mundiales.
Un 7⃣-0⃣ de leyenda que sirve de inmejorable estreno para este Campeonato del Mundo de #Catar2022.
¡¡#VamosEspaña!! pic.twitter.com/1mvuvLJ3Ru
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 23, 2022
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An all-Barcelona midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri were simply brilliant. 34-year-old veteran Busquets, who is playing in his fourth World Cup finals was at his usual best, controlling the tempo of the game, switching play with ease and forming the bridge between the attack and the defence. Meanwhile, the teenagers Gavi and Pedri worked their socks off, were impressive with their high pressing and when in ball possession, they had the quality to join the attack.
18-year-old Gavi was undoubtedly the standout performer of the day. The Barcelona-man, who was playing his 13th international game, displayed immense maturity and technicalily to run the engine room alongside Busquets, who has more than 100 caps to his name. The youngster worked his socks off, recorded one assist and scored a stunning goal. Gavi provided the killer pass for Olmo to open the scoring inside the opening 11 minutes. And then, 16 minutes from time, the Las Masia academy graduate found the back of the net with a stunning first-time volley from the edge of the box. It was the youngster’s second international goal and with this he became the third-youngest scorer in World Cup history.
The Spanish national team were often criticised for not having a proper striker in their playing eleven and this time too, Enrique opted for a 4-3-3 formation consisting of Olmo, Asensio and Torres. Torres was the only recognised forward in the playing eleven, while he was deployed on the right channel with Asensio doing the false no. 9’s role. The Real Madrid-man did a fine job of linking-up with the fellow attackers, while also finding the back of the net in the 21st-minute courtesy of a brilliant first-time half-volley from left-back Jordi Alba’s cross. While going forward, 7 Spanish players were positions in a around the Costa Rica penalty box, Their quick one-touch passing and positional inter-play was too hot for the North American’s to handle
