There’s the ball, get it. C’mon, it’s yours, just take it from us. No? Sure? Ok, let’s have another ride. One pass, two, three, four, still counting? That sort of endless, almost carefree amusement was seen tonight at Al-Thumama Stadium in Qatar as flawless Spain humiliated Costa Rica 7-0 in a simple game of cat and mouse.Spain have completed 549 passes in the first half against Costa Rica, the most passes completed in a half by any national team in the World Cup history.— @2010MisterChip pic.twitter.com/82Za4OvXwZ— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) November 23, 2022 Luis Enrique’s boys demonstrated a top-of-notch tiki-taka football embellished with dozens of one-twos, of-the-ball movement and quick, accurate finishing for more than a deserved victory. A goal every ten minutes in the first half sealed the deal for the Red Fury, and the second half was a chance for the favourites to batter their rivals properly. On the other hand, the Central American minnows couldn’t get their head around the fact the ball was almost never in their possession. Frustrated and lost between the boxes, PSG keeper Keylor Navas and his compatriots were predestined to concede. And concede again. And again.Like a vicious sting, the Spaniards would attack in almost regular intervals. The first one to score was Dani Olmo, 11 minutes into the game, after a one-two with Gavi and a bit of luck. Marco Asensio followed him ten minutes later as he pounced on Jordi Alba’s perfect assist from the left. I love you Marco Asensio happy to show you with a goal Asensio10 pic.twitter.com/UElrlBOMAz— Ousman Jawneh77 (@Jawneh77Ousman) November 23, 2022 Finally, the former Cityzen Ferran Torres definitely killed the game from the spot with 60 minutes still left on the clock.Even the result itself didn’t cause so much frustration among the underdogs, like the improbability of just getting the ball from the superbly-skilled opponents.To put things into perspective – they had to settle with not more than 15% of the ball possession in the first half, which are probably the worst numbers in the WC history. As much is a dreadful gap regarding completed passes between the two sides, 549-73. One almost unprecedented domination in every sense of the word.Ferran Torres GoalSpain 4-0 Costa Rica pic.twitter.com/S8IOE86SKv— Football – Alight Motion (@ftblamp) November 23, 2022 If you thought things would change at least for a bit after the break – you were wrong. Torres was eager to put his name on the scoresheet for the second time, and did it marvellously a couple of minutes into the second half. At that moment, Costa Rica’s defence was already crumbling, and the lack of communication between Navas and the defenders led to Spain’s fourth goal of the game.Such a development of events allowed Luis Enrique to provide his youngsters, Alejandro Balde and Nico Williams, with a chance to make their WC debut. The former made a mouth-watering run in the 74th minute, which was only temporarily stopped, but Alvaro Morata got a hold of it and crossed it to the box. There, 18-year-old Barca’s prodigy Gavi nailed it stunningly with the outside of his foot for 5-0, Soler added one more for 6-0, and Morata put the cherry on top with his side’s seveth goal of the match, for 7-0. QUE GOLAÇO DO GAVI! Espanha 5×0 Costa Rica pic.twitter.com/FxOBDmITyj— Futebol Arte Br (@futebolartebr_) November 23, 2022 Their next stop is Germany, and Hansi Flick and his boys have all the reasons for anxiety because they will be facing a super-confident Red Fury. With so much on stake… QATAR 2022 WORLD CUPSundayQatar – Ecuador 0-2 (0-2)/Valencia 16 pen, 31/MondayEngland – Iran 6-2 (3-0)/Bellingham 35, Saka 43, 62, Sterling 45+1, Rashford 71, Grealish 90 – Taremi 65, 90+12 p/Senegal – Netherlands 0-2 (0-0)/Gakpo 84, Klaassen 90+9/USA – Wales 1-1 (1-0)/Weah 36, Bale 82 pen/Tuesday, Nov 22ndArgentina – Saudi Arabia 1-2 (1-0)/Messi 10 pen – Al Shehri 48, Al Dawsari 53/Denmark – Tunisia 0-0Mexico – Poland 0-0France – Australia 4-1 (2-1)/Rabiot 27, Giroud 32, 71, Mbappe 68 – Goodwin 9/Wednesday, Nov 23rdMorocco – Croatia 0-0Germany – Japan 1-2 (1-0)/Gundogan 33 pen – Doan 75, Asano 83/Spain – Costa Rica 7-0 (3-0)/Olmo 11, Asensio 21, Torres 31 pen, 54, Gavi 74, Soler 89, Morata 90+3/22:00: (1.42) Belgium (4.50) Canada (8.00) FThursday, Nov 24th13:00: (1.75) Switzerland (3.45) Cameroon (5.20) G16:00: (1.80) Uruguay (3.40) S.Korea (4.90) H19:00: (1.43) Portugal (4.20) Ghana (8.50) H22:00: (1.48) Brazil (4.20) Serbia (7.25) GFriday, Nov 25th13:00: (2.25) Wales (3.05) Iran (3.60) B16:00: (3.80) Qatar (3.10) Senegal (2.15) A19:00: (1.65) Netherlands (3.80) Ecuador (5.50) A22:00: (1.65) England (3.70) USA (5.70) BSaturday, Nov 26th13:00: (2.90) Tunisia (3.00) Australia (2.65) D16:00: (1.63) Poland (3.80) Saudi Arabia (5.70) C19:00: (2.00) France (3.40) Denmark (3.90) D22:00: (1.62) Argentina (3.70) Mexico (6.00) CSunday, Nov 27th13:00: (1.85) Japan (3.40) Costa Rica (4.60) E16:00: (1.55) Belgium (4.00) Morocco (6.25) F19:00: (1.80) Croatia (3.50) Canada (4.70) F22:00: (2.60) Spain (3.25) Germany (2.75) EMonday, Nov 28th13:00: (4.20) Cameroon (3.35) Serbia (1.95) G16:00: (2.55) S.Korea (2.95) Ghana (3.05) H19:00: (1.50) Brazil (4.10) Switzerland (7.00) G22:00: (2.10) Portugal (3.20) Uruguay (3.80) HTuesday, Nov 29th18:00: (1.30) Netherlands (5.20) Qatar (11.0) A18:00: (2.80) Ecuador (3.10) Senegal (2.65) A22:00: (6.00) Wales (3.80) England (1.60) B22:00: (3.60) Iran (3.35) USA (2.10) BWednesday, Nov 30th18:00: (10.0) Tunisia (5.00) France (1.33) D18:00: (7.00) Australia (3.60) Denmark (1.58) D22:00: (5.20) Poland (3.70) Argentina (1.70) C22:00: (5.70) Saudi Arabia (3.80) Mexico (1.63) CThursday, Dec 1st18:00: (3.80) Croatia (3.45) Belgium (2.00) F18:00: (3.45) Canada (3.15) Morocco (2.25) F22:00: (8.50) Japan (4.80) Spain (1.37) E22:00: (12.0) Costa Rica (6.50) Germany (1.23) EFriday, Dec 2nd18:00: (8.00) S.Korea (4.50) Portugal (1.42) H18:00: (4.80) Ghana (3.45) Uruguay (1.80) H22:00: (11.0) Cameroon (5.20) Brazil (1.30) G22:00: (2.60) Serbia (3.40) Switzerland (2.70) G***odds are subject to change***
