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FIFA World Cup PIX: Clinical Spain rout sorry Costa Rica

Last updated on: November 24, 2022 00:49 IST

IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup Group E match played between Spain and Costa Rica on Wednesday.

Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates with teammates after scoring their seventh goal against Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar

IMAGE: Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates with teammates after scoring their seventh goal against Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Photograph: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Former champions Spain got their World Cup off to a pulsating start on Wednesday through a record 7-0 win over Costa Rica, with a Ferran Torres brace and strikes from five other players taking them past the 100-goal mark in soccer's showpiece event.

The European giants put their stamp on a Group E stunned by Japan's 2-1 victory over Germany hours earlier, with Spain relentlessly on the attack against a shambolic Costa Rican side.

Scores from Dani Olmo, Gavi, Marco Asensio, Carlos Soler, Alvaro Morata and Torres sent Spain into the 100 club of World Cup goals - and a victory by their biggest margin in their 16 appearances in the contest.

Spain's Gavi scores their team's fifth goal 

IMAGE: Spain's Gavi scores their team's fifth goal. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

"I don't think it was Costa Rica being bad, I think the win was our merit. We deserved to win, taking the game to them," Olmo said.

"Our team is strong and that is the path we need to follow. It was a boost of motivation, for sure."

Spain were in control from the first kick, with Costa Rica dizzied by their early onslaught at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha and unable to find any rhythm in a game where Pedri, Olmo, Gavi and Asensio all dazzled.

Referee Mohammed Abdulla attempts to break up a scuffle between Spain and Costa Rica players

IMAGE: Referee Mohammed Abdulla attempts to break up a scuffle between Spain and Costa Rica players. Photograph: Elsa/Getty Images

Spain almost went ahead after five minutes, when Pedri's deep cross found Olmo in space, whose shot went wide of the post. Asensio squandered a clear chance moments later after being picked out by the pivotal Pedri, who had a role in seemingly every Spain attack.

They went ahead 11 minutes into the game when man of the match Gavi, who became Spain's youngest ever World Cup player at the age of 18, put the ball into the path of Olmo, who turned and deftly lifted it over the advancing keeper Keylor Navas.

Spain's Ferran Torres (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup Group E match against Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday

IMAGE: Spain's Ferran Torres (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's third goal. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Spain got it on 21 minutes when Jordi Alba's neat pass across the box found Asensio who fired low past Navas.

Spain searched eagerly for a third and won a penalty around the half hour mark when Oscar Duarte tripped Alba, with Torres coolly stroking the ball down the middle past the helpless Navas.

Costa Rica were all at sea and failed to record a single attempt on goal, while Spain returned from the break hungry for more

Spain's Marco Asensio scores their team's second goal

IMAGE: Spain's Marco Asensio scores their team's second goal. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Torres gave Spain a fourth and himself a brace on 53 minutes, finding Gavi on the right, who played it back into the area for the Barcelona forward to turn and fire home his second.

Gavi found the net himself 16 minutes from time with a sumptuous volley in off the post after from a floating cross from Alvaro Morata, then Carlos Soler and Morata completed the demolition with two goals in the dying minutes.

Spain's Dani Olmo wins the ball in a challenge against Costa Rica's Oscar Duarte

IMAGE: Spain's Dani Olmo wins the ball in a challenge against Costa Rica's Oscar Duarte. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Costa Rica defender Kendall Waston said he felt hurt and ashamed by the thrashing.

"It's a result that nobody wants to experience, lose 7-0 in a World Cup," he said.

"We need to stand up together and fight back in the two games that are left."

Spain's Dani Olmo celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's first goal

IMAGE: Spain's Dani Olmo celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's first goal. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Costa Rica's coach Luis Fernando Suarez said his was outplayed by a far superior side.

"They kept the ball throughout the match. We did the exact opposite, we didn't have possession, we didn't really attack," he said. "They played an amazing game and we didn't."

 

 

Source: REUTERS
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