After Germany's surprise defeat against Japan (1-2), Wednesday, November 23, Spain had the opportunity to take a three-point lead over the Mannschaft in the event of success for this first match of the World Cup-2022. .
And La Roja won well in the big widths (7-0) against Costa Rica at the Al-Thumama stadium in Doha.
Spain start the match in a classic 4-3-3 against Costa Rica grouped in 5-4-1.
La Roja, as usual, started the game with a possession game dear to coach Luis Enrique.
The Spaniards, well in place, were quick to create danger: Olmo, launched by Pedri behind the Costa Rican defense, missed his cross shot against Navas (5th).
First alert on the goal of Costa Rica.
A few minutes later, Pedri serves Asensio again at the entrance to the opposing area, a shot that grazes the post of the Costa Rican goalkeeper (9th).
Second alert.
The third opportunity is the right one: on a one-two with Gavi, Olmo appears in the Costa Rican area and beats Navas with a small, subtle dive ball (1-0, 12th).
By the way, he scored the 100th goal for Spain in a World Cup.
Costa Rica struggled to exist during the start of the match, failing to project themselves into the Spanish half of the field.
La Roja, on the contrary, masters his subject and logically scores a second goal: on a millimeter cross from Alba in the Costa Rican area, Asensio arises to take the ball with a flat cross foot victorious (2-0, 21st).
Spain seems to be on the move for this first match in the World Cup-2022, while Costa Rica has been suffering the opposing game for half an hour.
He ends up cracking again on this breakthrough from Alba and concedes a penalty converted by Torres (3-0, 31st).
The match then took on the air of correction, and Costa Rica did not materialize with its free kick, a rare incursion into the Spanish area (33rd).
Even when they try to build an action, the Costa Ricans fail to create danger in the opposing camp (39th).
Spain, meanwhile, spin the ball around and manage their advantage at the end of that first half.
Asensio is close to increasing the score before returning to the locker room, but he fails to frame his shot (45th + 5).
A score that turns to correction
With a lead of three goals, the Spaniards are settled in an armchair for this second period.
They are not resting on their laurels, however, like Asensio who fires a shot above the frame of Navas (48th).
The low ball from Torres also sends a shiver through the Costa Rican defense (52nd).
And the opportunity that follows materializes: Torres dribble in the opposing area, caught between two defenders he slips the ball under the belly of Navas (4-0, 54th).
The essentials are assured for La Roja, and Luis Enrique rotates his workforce by replacing Torres and Pedri (57th) with Soler and Morata.
Morata also wants to go for his goal, but his curling shot misses the frame of Navas (63rd).
The Spanish coach, always in a logic of preserving his vital forces, brought out Busquets and Alba for Koke and Balde (64th) then Asensio for Willimas (69th).
Costa Rica, helpless, suffers the scenario of the match, leaving the door open to new goals from his opponent.
As we enter the last twenty minutes of regulation time, the match seems already over: Spain have made their five substitutions, are four goals ahead and Costa Rica is not creating any chances, still suffering the possession game of his opponent of the day (84% possession for La Roja over more than an hour of play).
And what had to happen happened: Spain gives even more scope to the scoreboard on a breakthrough from Balde, then Morata shifts and crosses for Gavi who scores the fifth goal with an outside right foot which makes a re-entrant post (5-0, 74th).
Morata fails to score a sixth goal (81st) but he is finally flagged offside.
The last minutes of the match took place at a false pace, Spain took the opportunity to improve their possession (more than 87% at the end of the match)... and their goal average.
On a cross from Williams repelled by Navas, Soler emerges in the axis and scores a sixth goal close to the post (6-0, 90th).
Costa Rica is absent, and he even concedes a seventh goal in stride, this time after a victorious strike from Morata (7-0, 90th + 2).
The referee finally whistles the end of the meeting, probably a release for Costa Rica.
The World Cup in Qatar beyond football:
>> Italy, Argentina, Russia… Before Qatar, three controversial World Cups
>> Behind "carbon neutrality", the "greenwashing" World Cup
>> "It's a disposable workforce": the hell of migrant workers in Qatar
>> A controversial World Cup: Qatar's efforts to counter criticism
>> Qatar: shadow workers
>> Should we boycott the World Cup in Qatar? An Emirate under criticism
>> A bought World Cup? Since 2010, suspicions of corruption have weighed on Qatar
>> After Qatar, is a "greener" World Cup possible?
>> Mondial-2022: a political, economic or "hypocritical" boycott?
>> I have the right, I don't have the right... Guide for the good little supporter in Qatar
The summary of the
France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 app