Spain 7-0 Costa Rica – World Cup 2022: Ferran Torres nets twice in thrashing

After the shock came the awe. While Japan’s stunning victory over Germany may have been the earthquake, Spain’s beautiful, brutal dismantling of Costa Rica will have sent tremors through Group E – and potentially beyond.

They scored a magnificent seven. It could have been 14. After barely half an hour had been played Luis Enrique’s brilliant young maestros were 3-0 up. The game was out and the Mexican Waves were in.

This is a dynamic young side mixed with a sprinkling of experience, the emphasis placed on the team rather than the individual. A flowing 4-3-3 made in Barcelona was far, far too much for opponents whose presence here itself is a completed mission impossible, having secured their place via a play-off win after winning just one of their opening seven qualifying matches.

Spain stars celebrate as they thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 to open up their World Cup campaign in the perfect fashion

Ferran Torres scored twice for Spain in one of the most one-sided World Cup displays seen in modern times of the tournament

Spain boss Luis Enrique acknowledges supporters after seeing his young side rip apart Costa Rica in their Group E clash

The problem with the early stages of the World Cup – which will get worse when we are burdened with ludicrous expansion – is that it is often difficult to judge based on the quality of some of the sides in the tournament. Just as we should not be readying Trafalgar Square for a victory parade because England battered Iran, Enrique will not yet be digging out the bunting from 2010’s success on the back of a walk in the palk.

But this was good. Seriously good. Enough to leave Germany – next up to face the Spaniards – contemplating an early Auf Weidersehen..

This is a team of soon-to-be stars. Pedri, of Barcelona, is 19. He has the moves of a shifty, swerving veteran. Enrique already thinks he is the most talented player in the world.

He will have seen nothing here to have moved him from that view. Gavi, another off the Barca conveyor belt, is 18 and became Spain’s youngest participant at a World Cup here, taking Cesc Fabregas’ record.

It took Spain just over 10 minutes to open the scoring when Dani Olmo clipped a cool finish over the head of Keylor Navas

Olmo celebrates his strike that quickly set the tone for Spain would dominate the rest of the Group E match in Doha

Just 10 minutes later, Spain doubled their lead through Marco Asensio after he volleyed home from inside the box

He too had a field day in a match that resembled a training ground exercise between a Premier League attack and a Dog and Duck defence.

Olmo started the rout on 11 minutes when he calmly dinked over Keylor Navas at the conclusion of the first of many fluid, gorgeous moves. A goal worthy of marking Spain’s century at World Cups.

The 101st was another treat. Another dreamy tiki-taka exchange dragged Costa Rica from left to right and ended when false nine Asensio clipped Jordi Alba’s cross first-time at Navas, who could only push it into the corner of his own net.

With 25 minutes gone the possession counter read north of 80 per cent.

Spain had already completed 250 passes. Breathless, exhilarating stuff.

Barcelona’s former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres rolled a delicious, deceptive penalty past Navas following a stuttering run up for the third after a desperate Oscar Duarte had felled Alba in the area and that was that.

Beyond half-time the relentless pattern continued to be painted by the artists in red shirts and shorts.

Had Costa Rica retreated any further they would have been in the airport over the road. They may be there soon anyway. 

Their fans, silenced almost from the kick-off, may well have left deflated. 

Jordi Alba was brought down inside the penalty area to win a penalty for Spain after a foul from Oscar Duarte (left)

Ferran Torres netted his first goal of the night in the 31st minute by sending Navas the wrong way from the penalty spot

Torres then struck again nine minutes after half-time after his hunger inside the box rewarded him with a game killing goal

Costa Rica became the first team since 1990 not to have a shot on goal in a World Cup finals match – graphic from SofaScore

They had made up around half the crowd in the 40,000-capacity Al Thumama Stadium, which is designed to resemble traditional headware worn by men across the Middle East. Another one half full (despite an announced attendance of 40,013), the cap could have fit a lot more.

Torres grabbed a second on 54 minutes, capitalising on shoddy work from a shell-shocked defence, before being substituted on a hat-trick and Gavi marked his grand occasion by adding youngest scorer to his accolades with an exquisite volley.

Sub Barragan Carlos Soler made it Spain’s biggest win on the biggest stage, tapping in after Navas, who had a miserable night, could only palm a cross to his feet before Morata helped himself at Costa Rica’s buffet bar. 

Gavi, 18, scored arguably the goal of the night with an expertly hit half-volley on the outside of his boot in the 74th minute

Gavi put in a commanding performance on a night where he became Spain’s youngest player at a World Cup finals

Enrique’s side will face tougher opponents, who may well muster a shot on goal.

They will also welcome back a fully-fit Morata and Daniel Carvajal, who bizarrely missed out on starting spots here after picking up colds thanks to the air conditioning at their hotel.

Good luck, Germany.

In the final minute of regulation time Carlos Soler came off the bench to fire home Spain’s sixth goal as he celebrates

There was also time for another sub in Alvaro Morata (centre) to add a seventh goal deep into the eight added minutes

The scoreline was a fair reflection of the on-field play with Costa Rica hardly offering any form of attack on Spain’s goal

Morata consoles the Costa Rica keeper Navas after the Group E contest which already leaves Costa Rica on the brink of exit

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