Spain began their World Cup campaign with a display of total dominance as they thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 to provide an early statement about their tournament credentials.

Kick-off came only hours after Japan had pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Germany in the other game in Group E but there was never any possibility of another upset at Al Thumama Stadium, with Luis Enrique’s side in complete control from the outset.

Dani Olmo (11) and Marco Asensio (21) scored their first two goals, with former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres adding the third from the penalty spot (31), then notching his second of the night with a low finish soon after half-time (54).

Barcelona midfielder Gavi, the youngest player to play for Spain at a World Cup at 18 years and 110 days old, then became the youngest scorer in the competition since Pele in 1958 with a sublime volleyed finish from Alvaro Morata’s pass for the fifth goal (74).

There was still time for substitutes Carlos Soler (90) and Morata (90+2) to get in on the act, with Costa Rica unable to offer anything in response, failing to even muster a shot on goal as Spain, seeking a repeat of their 2010 World Cup triumph, enjoyed a record 82 per cent share of the possession.

Big moments in the game…

  • 11 min: Olmo scoops a cool finish over Navas for the opener
  • 21 min: Asensio fires home second from Alba’s low centre
  • 31 min: Torres converts penalty after Alba is brought down
  • 54 min: Torres capitalises on poor defending to add fourth
  • 74 min: Gavi becomes youngest World Cup scorer since Pele in ’58
  • 90 min: Soler grabs sixth after good work from Williams
  • 90+2 min: Morata adds seventh and final goal to complete rout

How Spain destroyed woeful Costa Rica

Spain’s dominance was such that they could have already been ahead by the time Olmo scored their 11th-minute opener, the RB Leipzig forward lifting a deft finish over Keylor Navas from Gavi’s pass having earlier flashed a low effort just wide.

Spain started the game without an out-and-out striker but it proved no hindrance as Real Madrid’s Asensio, playing as a false nine, swiftly doubled their lead from Jordi Alba’s low pick-out.

Costa Rica were left shell-shocked by Spain’s start and the pattern of the game continued to follow the same lines, with Torres scoring from the penalty spot after Oscar Duarte had felled Alba.

The game was effectively over as a contest at that point but Spain’s appetite for goals remained insatiable, with Torres adding the fourth after the break when dismal Costa Rica defending gave him a second chance after his initial shot was blocked.

The fourth goal signalled the first in a raft of Spain changes, with Torres and the brilliant Pedri substituted with Sunday’s game against Germany in mind, but their dominance continued.

Image:
Gavi celebrates after scoring Spain’s fifth goal against Costa Rica

Morata blazed wide having sprung the Costa Rica offside trap but Spain did not have to wait long for their fifth goal, Gavi capping another outstanding individual performance with a wonderful strike, hit with the outside of his boot from the edge of the box and bouncing in off the post.

That goal came from a Morata cross and the former Chelsea striker eventually got one of his own, playing a clever one-two with Olmo before slotting a left-footed finish past the hapless Navas.

Moments before that goal, Soler, of Paris Saint-Germain, had added the sixth when he pounced on a loose ball after a low cross from fellow substitute Nico Williams was palmed into the danger zone by Navas.

Spain will of course face far sterner tests than this, starting against Germany on Sunday, but their performance was nonetheless an ominous show of strength at a tournament in which some of the other favourites – Argentina as well as Germany – are already faltering.

Player of the match – Gavi

Pedri was putting together a strong case but his early withdrawal after Torres scored Spain’s fourth allowed Gavi, his fellow teenager and Barcelona team-mate, to take centre stage.

The 18-year-old’s goal, brilliantly taken first-time from Morata’s cross, was the highlight of his performance and the moment which created history, making him Spain’s youngest-ever scorer at a World Cup.

But his all-round performance was just as impressive. As with Pedri before his substitution, Costa Rica simply could not get near him, the midfielder showing character and quality far beyond his years on the biggest stage of all.

Gavi had 91 touches and finished the game with a 90 per cent pass success rate, with Costa Rica finding the only way to stop him was to foul him. In total, he won five free-kicks, four more than any other player in a red shirt.

He might have to get used to that kind of treatment at this World Cup but the good news for Spain is that it had no effect on him. This was an extraordinary performance from a remarkable young player.

What does the result mean?

Spain jump into poll position in Group E, level on points with Japan, who beat Germany 2-1 in the earlier game, but with a huge advantage in terms of goal difference.

They now face Germany on Sunday, with kick-off at 7pm, knowing victory would sensationally knock Hansi Flick’s side out of the tournament, unless Costa Rica beat Japan in the other game, which kicks off at 10am on the same day.

Spain pass 100 World Cup goals – Opta stats

  • This is Spain’s biggest win in the World Cup, and the biggest in the competition since Portugal beat North Korea by the same scoreline in 2010.
  • This is Costa Rica’s biggest defeat in the World Cup, with them conceding as many goals tonight as they did in their previous eight games in the competition.
  • Spain scored three goals in the first half of a World Cup match for only the second time in their history, also doing so against Brazil in 1934.
  • Ferran Torres is the third Spanish player to score a brace on their World Cup debut after David Villa vs Ukraine in 2006 and Jose Iraragorri Ealo vs Brazil in 1934.
  • Marco Asensio became the 50th different player to score a goal for Spain at the World Cup. Asensio netted only his second goal for Spain in what was his 32nd cap and ended a run of 14 without a goal.
  • Dani Olmo netted Spain’s 100th goal at the World Cup, becoming the sixth nation to reach 100 goals in the competition’s history after Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Italy.

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