QATAR: In the second Group E match of the day, Spain displayed a masterclass in the Tiki-taka strategy, which helped them demolish Costa Rica 7-0 in the game.
Spain dominated the game with 83% ball possession
After a beautiful pass from Gavi, Dani Olmo scored in the 11th minute, beating Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The goal gave Spain an early lead. Marco Asensio doubled the lead 11 minutes later with a first-time shot, and Ferran Torres scored a penalty kick to make it 3-0 at halftime.
At the Al Thumama Stadium, the Spanish squad played with flamboyance. With their overwhelming 537 passes compared to Costa Rica’s 73, the Spanish outfield put Costa Rica to sleep.
Spain also became the first team since 1966 to complete 500 passes during the first half of the FIFA World Cup match. The team had an opportunity to make it 2-0 before halftime when Busquets’ backheel found the 19-year-old Pedri, but Pedri’s effort missed the mark.
With the assistance of Gavi, Torres made up for it in the second half. Torres scored past the Costa Rica goalkeeper after receiving a sharp cutback from young Gavi, who is only 18 years of age.
Spain became the first European team to feature two teenagers in a World Cup match since Bulgaria used Jechev and Sokolov against England in 1962. Both Pedri and Gavi started the game.
The Spanish team made more history when Gavi, who was 18 years old and 110 days old, became the youngest player ever to play for Spain in a major international tournament.
Soon after, Luis Enrique decided to replace Torres with Alvaro Morata. Torres was one goal away from scoring a hat-trick. Gavi joined the goal-scorer’s list in the 74th minute and became Spain’s youngest World Cup goal scorer.
Alejandro Balde made an exciting run in the middle of the field before sliding the ball past the Costa Rica goalkeeper. Morata won possession and passed it to Gavi, who volleyed a beautiful shot into the bottom corner after Navas dived toward his feet.
Morata and Carlos Soler made sure that Spain won the game, their biggest World Cup win ever.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Japan Stunned Germany with Two Late Goals
