This game will ultimately come down to one question: are Spain much better than people thought heading into this tournament or were Costa Rica beyond dire? Maybe both are true? I’ll let you answer that.
Regardless, Spain’s clash with Germany on Sunday looks all the more crucial given today’s results, while Japan will be looking at their game with Costa Rica as a chance to take control of the group if Spain and Germany take points off each other.
Anyway, time will only tell. Gavin Cummiskey is out in Qatar for us, stay tuned for his match report but that’s all from me. Cheers for tuning in.
Just minutes later, Morata got his reward for a good display off the bench, playing a one-two with Olmo before firing on the turn into the corner. If you want to see just how good Spain’s movement off the ball was, this moment sums it up. Morata’s run after squaring to Olmo is brilliant as he picks out a pocket of space for the shot.
Then there was Soler’s sixth. Williams’ ball in is into a really dangerous area, and Navas can only parry it into the path of Soler. Plenty are criticising Navas for this, but I actually think he does well in the first place to knock the ball away from goal, he’s just unlucky he doesn’t have a defender in sight to bail him out of trouble.
Gavi’s effort for the fifth is an early contender for goal of the tournament. The cross is one thing, but the ability to hit it with the outside of the boot on the volley is simply outstanding. That was after brilliant vision to ghost into the box unnoticed by the Costa Rica defence.
Plenty of credit should go Spain’s way for not letting up after half-time. Up 3-0 at the break, they could easily have coasted in the second 45. That they didn’t, adding a further four goals to make Costa Rica’s day as miserable as possible.
Here’s the first of those second half efforts, Navas and Oviedo getting in each other’s way inside the box to gift Torres his second of the day. Poor old Navas had a brutal day at the office.
Then Morata plays a deft one-two with Olmo before firing into the corner on the turn. Excellent finish.
Full-time: Spain 7 Costa Rica 0
Costa Rica are finally put out of their misery. Fair play to Spain, plenty will still point to the quality of opposition but there is no better way of allaying concerns over your goal-scoring record than putting in a display like that.
Pedri and Torres were the stars of the early display, pulling the strings brilliantly in midfield but the movement of everyone in the midfield and forward line cut Costa Rica to shreds, opening up plenty of space. Morata came on and was a nuisance with his ability to sneak past the last shoulder of the defence, better lines will prevent him doing so as much but it is a clear plan from Spain to play the ball in behind and they were so good at it today.
Here are the two latest goals. First of all, Navas fails to deal with the cross, allowing Soler to power home.
92 mins: More slick ball movement from Spain sends the ball to Morata at the edge of the area. He plays a one-two with Olmo, running behind the defender before firing into the bottom corner first-time on the term. Incredible display this.
MORATA ADDS A SEVENTH
Just the eight minutes of added time, in line with the tournament trend.
90 mins: It’s a riot in Qatar! Williams’ cross is brilliant, drawing Navas off his line as it rolls across the six-yard box. He actually does well to get a hand on it to parry away the danger, but only into the path of Soler who slots home into the empty net.
6-0 Spain!
88 mins: Morata makes yet another good run in behind as Olmo plays it through, but there’s just too much on the pass as Navas comes out to claim.
In case you missed it, here is that gorgeous strike from Gavi that made it 5-0.
87 mins: Olmo works some space in the box after being played in by Koke but he can’t beat the defender as his effort is blocked.
81 mins: Morata once again gets past the last defender as the ball through to him is excellent. Navas makes a good save one-on-one but the linesman’s flag belatedly goes up. Oviedo’s day is done for Costa Rica, Matarrita replacing him.
80 mins: Close! Williams’ stepover opens up a yard of space for a cross. It’s a dangerous ball in begging to be turned into the net but Morata is just about beaten to it by the defence.
79 mins: Costa Rica’s frustration starts to show. Watson is in the box challenging for a high ball but he’s clambered all over the defender and given away a foul. His reaction is an angry one and the Spanish side takes exception, swarming around him in a mini scuffle.
75 mins: The youngest player to play for Spain at a World Cup finals has his goal. Morata is in behind again but for once today, Navas does well as he comes off his line to bat the ball away. However, Spain work a cross back into the area and Gavi is first to it, sending an exquisite, outside-of-the-boot effort past Navas and into the bottom corner. That is a ridiculous finish.
5-0! Gavi strikes for Spain!
Another change for Costa Rica. Aguilera is on for Borges.
68 mins: That is a rash challenge from Calvo. His poor first touch allows Soler to pick his pocket and in an attempt to win it back, a late lunge catches the Spaniard in a nasty collision. First yellow card of the day is brandished to Calvo. Meanwhile Spain make another change as Asensio completes his evening’s work, Williams is on for him.
Here is the awful mix-up between Navas and Oviedo that gifted Torres his second of the day.
63 mins: Chance! Morata is playing off the last defender brilliantly at the moment as he once again runs in behind the defence. He tries to bend his effort goalwards but can’t work the angle as he fires wide. Enrique makes another two changes, Koke on for Alba, Balde on for Busquets.
Contreras and Bennette are off for Costa Rica, Zamora and Ruiz replacing them. The later, aged 37, becomes to oldest player to represent Costa Rica at a World Cup.
60 mins: Morata is played in behind, question of offside but play continues. His pull-back is blocked but Olmo does well to keep it in, back-heeling across the face of goal and that deflection off the defender could have gone anywhere. Costa Rica clear.
Torres won’t be able to get his hat-trick. Enrique has decided to ring the changes with Morata and Soler coming on, Torres and Pedri, Spain’s two best players today, earning a deserved rest.
54 mins: Oh no, that is an absolute shocker from Costa Rica. Torres initially loses the ball inside the box, but instead of it rolling gently into the arms of Navas, Oviedo gets in the way of his ‘keeper. What’s worse is he can’t get to the ball either, allowing Torres to regather, turn and sweep home with Navas well off his line.
TORRES ADDS A FOURTH
53 mins: CLOSE! Olmo this time threatens as he gets to the byline, his cut-back fizzing dangerously across the six-yard box. A Costa Rican boot gets to it first with Navas looking in trouble if Asensio had gotten a touch.
52 mins: Torres sends a dangerous cross into the area but Fuller does well to beat his man and clear. Spain have not taken their foot off the gas so far.
48 mins: CHANCE! Costa Rica have brought on an extra centre-back, allowing the extra defender to go up into midfield to press Spain’s playmakers. However, that leaves a gap in behind and Asensio fills it after being picked out by Azpilicueta. In acres of space on the edge of the box, he loses his footing as he makes contact, meaning he can only blaze his effort over the bar.
46 mins: The second half is underway! Costa Rica have made a change and it’s at the back. Carlos Martínez has gone off, Kendall Watson is on.
Then there was the penalty. A poor challenge from Duarte took Alba down and while Torres’ chipped effort would have been simple to save if Navas went the right way, he went to the opposite corner and Spain added a third.
Then there was Asensio’s brilliant second. Alba’s ball is fantastic, though how Asensio has that much space in the box is beyond me. His first-time effort is too powerful for Navas to keep out even though he did get a hand on it.
We’ll quickly run through the goals, firstly there was this move set up by Pedri who pulled the ball back to Olmo. His exchange with Gavi does take a deflection but Olmo is able to hold his run enough to take the ball and poke it past Navas.
Half-time: Spain 3 Costa Rica 0
Spain look good, really good. Caveats maybe apply give how poor Costa Rica have been, but 3-0 is some half-time scoreline. Pedri in particular has been incredible both with his movement off the ball and ability to pick holes when on it, but in general, the flexibility of Spain’s forwards changing positions and finding pockets of space has caused havoc.
For all the talk of a lack of goal threat up front, Asensio has been lively, he took his goal well while Olmo too has found space in behind plenty of times, albeit he was wasteful early in the half.
50 mins: What a block! Duarte has saved his side big-time there. Pedri plays in Asensio as both the run and pass are perfectly times. Asensio probably takes too many touches, allowing Duarte to slide in and block his goal-bound effort.
49 mins: Only the referee can stop Spain. Asensio looks to play Alba into space but he hits the official! Spain get the ball back almost immediately.
47 mins: Costa Rica are caught in two minds here. They have a high line to press but no one is rushing forward out of it to pressure the Spanish defence given how easily Spain have cut open their midfield so far. Half-time can’t come soon enough for the South American side.
Five minutes to be added on. No doubt due to the time taken out of the game by the three goals.
43 mins: More one-touch football nearly sends Asensio in as his one-two with Olmo opens up a gap. A last-gasp lunge from Duarte does enough to take the ball out of Asensio’s path with no one between him and goal.
40 mins: Spain dominate the ball for what feels like an age, moving parts constantly shifting position in midfield as they patiently work an opening. It comes when Azpilicueta finds space down the right but his cross is just out of reach of Torres who had got goal-side of his marker.
38 mins: Too good from Spain. Costa Rica work down the left flank to take the ball into the box, but one tackle leads to a series of sumptuous passes as they play their way out of trouble from the back.
And here is both the foul on Alba that lead to the penalty, and Torres’ spot-kick that made it 3-0.
33 mins: Half a chance! Borges whips in a free-kick for Costa Rica from out wide. It’s deflected to Joel Campbell in space inside the box but his first touch is poor when he should have threatened Simon in the Spain goal. If he did, it wouldn’t have mattered as the offside flag belatedly goes up. He was miles off, just a lazy run from the former Arsenal man.
31 mins: 3-0 Spain! Torres sends Navas the wrong way, chipping his composed penalty towards the bottom corner. No upset on the cards here!
PENALTY SPAIN! Duarte lunges in, down goes Alba and the referee points to the spot. It’s clumsy, he’s already falling while reaching for the ball, he can’t control the challenge and as a result clips Alba’s ankle. Torres to take...
29 mins: Alba gets a big roar out of the crowd after nut-megging Martínez. Spain are absolutely cruising.
Here is that Asensio strike. Should Navas have done better in the Costa Rica goal or are we being a bit harsh?
24 mins: Spain continue to push forward and ask plenty of questions. Asensio works a half gap for a shot from a wide position but Oviedo does enough to get a block in.
21 mins: So much for Spain’s lack of goal threat... Alba has far too much space out wide and he picks out Asensio on the edge of the area. There are both of the Costa Rican centre-backs in front of him who don’t close down the space, allowing him to shoot on the half-volley towards the bottom corner. Navas should really do better as he does get a hand to it but it’s still a top finish from Asensio.
2-0! Asensio doubles the lead!
20 mins: Costa Rica go on a rare foray forward but they are caught on the counter after Gavi comes away with it in midfield. Asensio is happy to hold up play and wait for support as the defence does well to find its shape quickly.
Here is that Olmo goal that opened the scoring.
15 mins: Pedri and Gavi link up once again as the latter looks to run towards the box. Calvo has other ideas, cutting Gavi down to give Spain a free-kick in a dangerous area. Pedri tries to catch Costa Rica off guard with a short pass but Fuller is wise to it.
12 mins: That man Pedri is heavily involved once again. His ball back across the box opens up the space for Olmo who lays it off to Gavi. He tries to lift the ball over the top of the defence to return the favour, it takes a deflection but still finds its target as Olmo pokes it past Navas. Goal stands. Spain’s 100th goal at a World Cup finals.
OLMO HAS SCORED! Spain are ahead, no doubt VAR will have a look as there is definitely an question of offside but Spain, for now, have the lead their early play deserves!
Here is that earlier chance for Olmo. On second viewing, he really should have scored.
9 mins: CHANCE! More good build-up from Spain. Pedri squares to Asensio in space on the edge of the box but his first-time effort doesn’t have a good connection on it as it rolls harmlessly wide. Pedri is causing Costa Rica no end of trouble in the early stages.
5 mins: CHANCE! What a ball from Pedri. He jinks inside from out wide before picking out Olmo beautifully. The ball is weighted perfectly to just get over the defender but Olmo’s volley from close range sails wide. What a chance.
4 mins: Wasteful from Asensio. He is strong enough to ride a challenge from behind that should be a foul, but by staying on his feet he is able to turn and run in behind. He looks to pick a run into the box but scuffs his pass as it is easily cleared.
2 mins: Torres enters the box for Spain for the first time today. He takes on Oviedo in a wide position but the challenge is good, Spain earn a corner. It’s towards Laporte but sails over his head as Costa Rica clear.
1 min: We are underway! Spain kick things off and almost immediately launch the ball long. Cost Rica clear for a throw, it’s taken quickly as Spain build from the back through Laporte and Alba.
A quick recap of the teams for those who are just joining us.
Time for the anthems. I don’t know about you, but the players belting out the anthem out of time with the stadium PA really adds to it all.
In case you missed it, here is the snap report from that shock Japan win over Germany. Ken Early will have a full report shortly.
[ World Cup 2022: Asano strikes late as Japan stun GermanyOpens in new window ]
While we’re waiting for kick-off on this one, take a look at Kevin Kilbane’s latest column. Here, he looks at England’s prospects after they kicked off their campaign with an impressive 6-2 win over Iran on Monday.
As for Costa Rica, they’re at the opposite end of the experience spectrum to Spain - plenty of their main men are all well into their 30s. This is their sixth World Cup, their most memorable coming in 2014 when they qualified out of a group containing both England and Uruguay.
Fans on this side of the world will be very familiar with Keylor Navas, the ‘keeper who won three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and now lines out for PSG. Elsewhere, former Everton man Bryan Oviedo is at left-back as Costa Rica have picked five at the back, while former Arsenal man Joel Campbell sits on the wing in a 5-4-1.
Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Carlos Martínez, Keysher Fuller, Óscar Duarte, Francisco Calvo, Bryan Oviedo; Joel Campbell, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Jewison Bennette; Anthony Contreras.
The teams are in! Let’s start with the XI Luis Enrique has named for Spain.
Spain: Unai Simón; Jordi Alba, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, César Azpilicueta; Pedri, Sergio Busquets (captain), Gavi; Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Ferran Torres.
Plenty to pick through in this Spanish side. Lots of experience at the back with Chelsea’s Azpilicueta and the Manchester City duo of Laporte and Rodri, not to mention Jordi Alba. Of course, Rodri normally plays in central midfield at City but he has dropped back into defence here.
It’s an all-Barcelona midfield trio of Pedri, Sergio Busquets and Gavi - Busquets both the skipper and a rare experienced head away from the defence in what is the third youngest squad in the tournament.
Up front is where the big question marks are. Plenty are asking where are the goals coming from in this Spanish side? Olmo, Asensio and Torres will have the first shot at answering that question as Spain line up in a 4-3-3.
Good afternoon all and welcome to our live World Cup coverage! After a shock already today in Group E with Japan’s victory over Germany, can Costa Rica follow suit with an upset over Spain? We’ll find out soon enough with a 4pm kick-off from the Al Thumama Stadium.
Nathan Johns here to guide you through all the action, get in touch on Twitter (@nathanrjohns) but for now let’s start building up to kick-off.
