Ferran Torres of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Spain and Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium on November 23, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Former champion Spain got world Cup Wednesday got off to a blistering start with a record 7-0 win over shell-shocked Costa Rica, with an opening Dani Olmo strike taking his country past the 100-goal mark at football’s showpiece event.
The European giants looked to make their mark in Group E with an incredible search for goals against a Costa Rican side who posed no threat to easily take the points from Olmo, Gavi, Marco Asensio, Carlos Soler, Álvaro Morata and a brace. did not do. Ferran Torres.
Spain were in control from the first kick, Costa Rica rattled with their early attack at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium and the likes of Pedri, Olmo and Asensio could not find any rhythm in the game.
Spain almost went ahead after five minutes when Pedri’s deep cross from the left found Olmo in space, whose shot went wide of the post.
Asensio later missed a clear chance, connected awkwardly with the ball and sent it wide after being fouled by the decisive Pedri, who had a role in every Spain attack.
They went ahead 11 minutes into the game when 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 headed it cleverly past Keylor Navas. picked up from
Spain pressed hard for a second and got it on 21 minutes when Jordi Alba’s neat pass across the box found Asensio who got past Navas.
Spain searched desperately for a third and won a penalty on 31 minutes when Oscar Duarte tripped Alba, Ferran Torres stroking the ball comfortably through the middle of the hapless Navas.
Spain returned from the break hungry for more, Asensio firing over the bar as Olmo’s dangerous runs tested the Costa Rica defense which was at sea.
Torres netted Spain’s fourth and himself a brace in the 53rd minute, finding Gavi on the right, who played back into the area for the Barcelona forwards to fire over his second.
Gavi found himself at the net 16 minutes from time with a superb volley after a floating cross from Álvaro Morata, then Carlos Soler and Morata completed the demolition with two goals each in the dying minutes.