ᑕ❶ᑐ World Cup 2022: Does sorry Costa Rica’s 7-0 thrashing make suitors for Spain?

Host Country: Qatar Date: November 20-December 18 Cover : Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-to-day TV programs – Full coverage details

Whatever England can do, Spain can do better… but does beating hapless opposition in your opener really turn someone into an instant World Cup contender?

That should happen in their next game on Sunday against a German side who will be fighting for their future in this tournament. after their shock loss to Japan.

There was still plenty for Spain and their supporters to savor at the Al Thumama Stadium, of course, especially Gavi’s delicious volley to make it 5-0, but it was clear from the start that he was was a huge mismatch and the score reflected the huge chasm between the two shores.

Costa Rica were the last team to qualify for Qatar, thanks to a play-off win over New Zealand in June, but unless there is a huge improvement, they look like they are one of the first teams to be eliminated.

Spain tore them up too easily, sometimes straight through midfield, and the game ended like a contest after barely half an hour when Ferran Torres converted a penalty to make it 3-0.

They continued to advance in waves in the second half and others but followed even after Enrique made a series of changes – like England, some of their substitutes got involved in the score.

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Costa Rica outdated and outclassed

Costa Rica weren’t just passed – they shot 241-1,043 – they were also outplayed and failed to muster a single shot on goal. The closest to that was four touches in the Spanish zone, two in each half.

Former England defender Gary Neville saw the dismal statistics more as a sign of the severity of the 2014 quarter-finals than the quality of Spain.

« Well done to Spain, they’ve done their job, » Neville said on ITV. « I didn’t think Costa Rica could get worse in the second half, but they overcame their performance in the first half. They were hesitant. They were a mess.

« I can’t measure Spain on this at all. Costa Rica are the first 32-year-old team without a shot on goal, it can’t happen.

“They have had several World Cups. There was nothing today. I have no idea what just happened.

“Spain keep the ball, we know that, but it’s as bad as that for a team that has a lot of experience. »

Former England goalkeeper Rob Green added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Spain were brilliant but I’m tempted to say this game won’t tell us a lot about them in this tournament. The strength of the opposition, Costa Rica really ‘It made it difficult.

« It’s took a walk in Spain’s park. Realistically the substitutions Spain made in the second half, they were bleeding young people, resting old legs; Costa Rica knew the game was over . »

Spain’s ‘perfect performance’

You could say, of course, that not allowing your opponent to go for the goal while scoring seven yourself is nothing to sneeze at, and Spanish (Site notre bureau spécialisé) pundit Guillem Balague preferred to come clean on the positives for Spain.

Balague told 5 Live: « It was just the perfect performance, could you see it after three but Costa Rica gave up.

“But how many shots on target for Costa Rica? Or attempts? Zero. In the World Cup you don’t get that kind of performance, the same way you don’t get the kind of performance that England gave against Iran.

“We are talking about the same kind of level. They are, for the moment, it seems, ahead of the others. »

Should Spain enjoy a rare good start?

Perhaps we’d better not think about what the size of this Spanish win means and instead dwell on the fact that they have, for once, started their World Cup with a victory.

They had lost their opening game in their previous 3 tournaments, including South Africa 2010 where they won it – and it was clearly unwise to jump to any early conclusions about their prospects at the time.

It was Germany and Argentina who were upset this time and, in a tournament that was full of shock results in its early days, young Spanish stars like Gavi and Pedri instead sent a statement of intention that they could be the ones causing some surprises in the coming weeks.

Green added: “This is what Spain needed. Going into this tournament they had some questions, young players are coming, can they find and find answers? Well, that was a perfect workout for them because that’s pretty much what it was.

“It wasn’t a competition, it was a warm-up. There will be bigger games to come, but if you get over 1,000 assists in a game, then that’s an incredible achievement. »

What was the Spanish verdict?

Naturally, the Spanish players seemed quite happy with their performance, as well as the result.

Dani Olmo, who opened the score with what was Spain’s 100th World Cup goal, said: « I don’t think it’s about bad Costa Rica. This was the strength of our team.

“I think victory was what awaited us. We deserved to win after winning the game against them. I think our team is strong and that’s the way we have to go. It was a confidence boost for sure. »

But managers are rarely satisfied so easily and, just as England boss Gareth Southgate motivated his side’s attacking display against Iran but was unhappy to see them concede a few late goals, Spain boss Enrique called his side a  »outstanding » – before adding that they can do better next time.

« Our goal is to dominate the game all the time, and for that you have to have the ball, » Enrique told TVE.

« Your opponent is tired and can’t get into it, our pressing was exceptional and the 16 players we used were superb – although we still have room to improve. »

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