The team couldn't start better: they achieved a historic win over Costa Rica, in an exercise of control, attack and precise finishing.
Luis Enrique's men made 17 shots to score seven goals, dominating all phases of the match.
The graph shows the danger produced by each team throughout the match.
The curve leans towards the Spanish side practically at all times, with the same intensity on both sides, before and after the changes.
Costa Rica was not capable of producing any danger, not even in isolated plays with the game sentenced.
Only the Red finished off
Spain shot on 17 occasions, of which 8 were on target and 7 ended in a goal.
Among other things, the team was accurate, as corroborated by an advanced statistic: their shots were worth 3.5 expected goals, which they managed to convert into 7 goals (see glossary).
Costa Rica did not make any shots throughout the match.
Spain
goals 7
Shots 17 (8 on goal)
3.5xG
expected goals
Costa Rica
goals 0
Shots 0 (0 on goal)
0xG
expected goals
Spain
goals 7
Shots 17 (8 on goal)
3.5xG
expected goals
Costa Rica
goals 0
Shots 0 (0 on goal)
0xG
expected goals
Spain
Costa Rica
goals 7
Shots 17 (8 on goal)
goals 0
Shots 0 (0 on goal)
3.5xG
0xG
expected goals
expected goals
Spain
Costa Rica
goals 7
Shots 17 (8 on goal)
goals 0
Shots 0 (0 on goal)
3.5xG
0xG
expected goals
expected goals
Spain leans towards the left wing
The graph below shows lines between those players who have connected more than four passes between them.
The Spanish team has moved the ball with ease between players of all lines.
The round-trip passes between defenders stand out: Laporte completed 143 passes;
Rodri, 137. Another 100 came from Jordi Alba's boots and 90 from Azpilicueta's: 470 passes from the four starting defenders, almost half of a team that successfully completed up to 998 links.
Part of Spain's game went through Pedri, who played a little ahead of Busquets.
It is also striking how the game in Spain went through Pedri.
Jordi Alba's increases resulted in an assist and a penalty in favor.
La Roja played harmoniously, favored by the little biting of the opponent.
At the beginning of the plays, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres practically stepped on the touchline, before starting towards the area.
Spain
Elm
Pedro
Asensio
Rodri
Gavi
Pedri connected both with the defensive line and with the attacker
Costa Rica
keylor
J. Cambpell
Costa Rica revealed itself unable to connect between the lines
Spain
Elm
Pedro
Asensio
Rodri
Gavi
Pedri connected both with the defensive line and with the attacker
Costa Rica
keylor
J. Cambpell
Costa Rica revealed itself unable to connect between the lines
Spain
Costa Rica
Elm
Asensio
Pedro
J Campbell
Gavi
Borges
Rodri
keylor
Pedri connected both with the defensive line and with the attacker
Costa Rica revealed itself unable to connect between the lines
Spain
Costa Rica
Elm
Asensio
Pedro
J Campbell
Gavi
Borges
Rodri
Pedri connected both with the defensive line and with the attacker
Costa Rica revealed itself unable to connect between the lines
keylor
Costa Rica could not spin game.
His passing chart barely shows any connections between his midfield players.
In fact, the Ticos have only achieved it between three pairs of footballers: the most repeated pass was, by far, between Campbell and Borges.
The domain of Pedri and Gavi
Spain debuted in the World Cup with Asensio as a false nine: it's easy to see it on his touch map.
He moved the ball equally throughout the rival field, and was even seen near Unai Simón's area.
Gavi and Pedri also had great mobility, with the former more advanced.
Pedri showed his control of the opposite field by playing more focused in the three quarters of the field.
Pedro
4
8
1
1
two
19
9
4
1
8
eleven
5
3
3
1
two
two
1
1
1
3
1
1
Asensio
1
1
1
two
3
1
8
4
1
1
two
3
two
1
two
1
1
6
1
two
5
3
1
1
Gavi
two
two
1
1
3
two
1
1
1
6
5
1
1
7
7
13
eleven
two
two
1
1
1
4
3
two
two
1
7
Pedro
4
8
1
1
two
19
9
4
1
8
eleven
5
3
3
1
two
two
1
1
1
3
1
1
Asensio
1
1
1
two
3
1
8
4
1
1
two
3
two
1
two
1
1
6
1
two
5
3
1
1
Gavi
two
two
1
1
3
two
1
1
1
6
5
1
1
7
7
13
eleven
two
two
1
1
1
4
3
two
two
1
7
Pedro
Asensio
Gavi
two
1
1
1
1
1
two
1
1
3
1
two
two
6
eleven
3
1
1
1
3
1
1
8
5
1
3
1
two
3
7
13
7
5
6
1
8
1
8
19
eleven
two
1
1
7
two
3
two
two
4
1
4
9
two
1
5
two
4
4
3
1
1
1
two
1
two
3
1
1
two
1
two
1
1
1
1
Pedro
Asensio
Gavi
two
1
1
1
1
1
two
1
1
3
1
two
two
6
eleven
3
1
1
1
3
1
1
8
5
1
3
1
two
3
7
13
7
5
6
1
8
1
8
19
eleven
two
1
1
7
two
3
two
two
4
1
4
9
two
1
5
two
4
4
3
1
1
1
two
1
two
3
1
1
two
1
two
1
1
1
1
sources and glossary
expected goals
The goals that a player or a team should have scored with their shots, adding the probability that each one had of ending in a goal.
The calculation of the statistics takes into account the position of the shot, the type of shot or the position of the goalkeeper.
Momentum of the party
Which team is creating more dangerous situations in each minute.
It is calculated from the recent ball possessions of each team and their probability of ending in a goal.
Controlling the ball has a different value depending on the position: it is not the same danger to retain the ball between your central defenders as it is to take it into the opponent's small area.
Data source:
Opta.
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