Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their seventh goal with Carlos Soler in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Group E match Spain v Costa Rica at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar at the 23 November, 2022
Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their seventh goal with Carlos Soler in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Group E match Spain v Costa Rica at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar at the 23 November, 2022
Football

Spain hammer Costa Rica 7-0 in perfect World Cup start

Reuters Doha

Spain thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday, their biggest ever winning margin at a FIFA World Cup, helped by two goals by Ferran Torres and strikes by five other players to send a resounding message to the rest of the teams in Qatar.

Spain were mindful of the shock defeats suffered by Argentina and Group E rivals Germany against lower opposition in their opening matches and they tormented Costa Rica from the start, going 3-0 up after little more than 30 minutes.

Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their seventh goal with teammates

Dani Olmo got the goals flowing in the 11th minute when he exchanged passes with Gavi and chipped Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Ten minutes later, Marco Asensio timed a run into the box perfectly to connect powerfully with a Jordi Alba cross.

Torres stroked home his penalty in the 31st minute and the Barcelona winger claimed his second in the 54th when he took advantage of hesitant defending.

Gavi, the youngest player to represent Spain at a World Cup, struck with a perfectly hit volley in the 74th minute before substitutes Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata rounded off a totally one-sided encounter.

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