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World Cup: Spain beats Costa Rica (7-0) and already puts Germany under pressure

2022-11-23T18:26:15.124Z


La Roja started its World Cup perfectly and treated the goal difference against Costa Ricans without a solution (7-0). Sunday, she affron


This time, no alarm clock for La Roja.

Beaten by Switzerland in 2010 (1-0), destroyed by the Netherlands in 2014 (5-2) and forced to a draw by Portugal four years later (3-3), Spain had become accustomed to start his Worlds purring.

This Wednesday, she transformed the Costa Ricans into little kittens (7-0), condemned to chasing a ball that they barely touched.

What seriously worry Germany.

The Mannschaft was overthrown by the eternal Japanese surprise (1-2) and will find La Roja on Sunday for an essential duel.

While the band of Hansi Flick will already be under pressure, the 2010 world champions will approach the meeting wrapped in the promises woven against Costa Rica.

Switched to management mode at the end of the first period, Luis Enrique's men displayed the premium version of Spain.

The one who confiscates the ball without falling into sterility.

Led by an excellent Pedri, the Iberians piled up three goals in half an hour of play. From the 11th minute, the Seleccion scored their 100th goal in World Cup history.

Dani Olmo curled his defender beautifully with an angled check before slotting the ball over Keylor Navas.

The Parisian goalkeeper had not appeared in an official match for five months.

For his return, he did not have a warm hand.

La Roja saves itself

His hands were indeed too soft to sufficiently deflect Marco Asensio's shot from the edge of the area (2-0, 21st).

The action of this second goal symbolized the balance of power of the game.

Ticos grouped together but late on each ball, disoriented by the Iberian promenade.

In the first half, Aymeric Laporte and his teammates managed 537 passes (1043 passes at the end of the match and 81.8% possession!), thus beating the record set by Germany… this Wednesday against Japan (422).

Centerer for Asensio on the break goal, Jordi Alba obtained the penalty converted by Ferran Torres in the 31st minute.

The Barça winger added to the score after the break (4-0, 54th), imitated by his club partner Gavi, author of a silky volley (5-0, 74th).

They thus proved Spain's ability to be effective (8 shots on target), despite the absence of a number 9 until the entry on the hour mark of Alvaro Morata, author of the last pawn (90th + 3).

18 - Aged 18 years and 110 days, Gavi is the youngest World Cup goalscorer since Pelé in the 1958 final against Sweden (17 years and 249 days).

Prodigy.

#ESPCRC pic.twitter.com/S4mDfZdcmb

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 23, 2022

Replaced by Carlos Soler, the penultimate scorer (90th), the young Pedri (19) left during the same wave of changes.

The Barcelonan starts the tournament on the same basis as his stunning Euro 2021. With players like him, able to keep the leather, distribute it and occupy the right spaces, La Roja secures control of the ball. in large proportions.

Nothing surprising, of course, but very useful to save money, while the competition promises extended additional time and its share of cramps and injuries.

Luis Enrique was also able to indulge in turnover and offered time to inexperienced players.

The perfect Spanish copy remains to be put into perspective in view of the weak adversity offered by an anesthetized Costa Rica.

The Ticos were however surfing on a series of four games without defeat.

They never worried their executioners of the day in terms of intensity and physics, where Sergio Busquets and others seem to be taken.

Having emerged victorious from the group of death in 2014, the South Americans risk not repeating the feat after this complicated first round.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2022-11-23

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