World Cup 2022: Spain thump Costa Rica; Belgium edge impressive Canada
Spain are now on top of Group E courtesy a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica in their opening match of the 2022 World Cup on Wednesday evening.
Ferran Torres netted twice during a dominant performance, while Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata were also on the scoresheet for the 2010 world champions
Luis Enrique’s side will continue their Group E campaign against a wounded Germany on Sunday, while Costa Rica will be bidding to bounce back from the loss when they face Japan on the same day.
Spain had a brilliant chance to make the breakthrough in the fifth minute when Olmo met a deep cross from Pedri, but the attacker volleyed just wide of the far post
The breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute when Olmo collected a pass from Gavi before turning and producing a brilliant finish over Keylor Navas.
Spain then doubled their lead in the 21st minute, with Asensio sweeping a low Jordi Alba cross into the back of the net.
Enrique’s side were awarded a penalty in the 29th minute of the contest when Alba was brought to the ground by Oscar Duarte. Torres made it 3-0 by sending Navas the wrong way from the spot, with Costa Rica having the match taken away from them before the end of the first half
Spain’s final chance of the first period fell to Asensio, who again broke into a dangerous position, but Duarte did just about enough to put off the attacker, with the score 3-0 at the interval.
Spain had a fourth in the 54th minute when Torres span inside the opposition’s penalty box before finishing under Navas following some questionable defending from Los Ticos.
The fifth arrived in the 74th minute when Gavi brilliantly volleyed a Morata cross into the bottom corner.
Five then became six in the final exchanges when Soler fired past Navas from close range, before Morata made it 7-0 with a clever finish after combining with Olmo.
Canada dominated large periods of the opening hour and missed an early penalty, but a goal from Michy Batshuayi proved to be the difference as Belgium secured an hard-earned win in Al Rayyan.
With Croatia and Morocco playing out a goalless draw earlier in the day, Belgium sit at the top of Group F ahead of facing Morocco on Sunday.
Canada will feel that they can still qualify for the knockout stages, despite missing out on another opportunity to score their first-ever goal in the competition at the fourth attempt.
Canada were awarded a penalty when Yannick Carrasco was adjudged to have handled Tajon Buchanan’s goalbound shot.
Alphonso Davies squandered the opportunity, though, with his low spot kick being saved by Thibaut Courtois before the rebound was fired over the crossbar.
Despite that disappointment, it remained all Canada, and Junior Hoilett was the next to go close as the winger sent a low effort wide of the far post.
As half time approached, Canada would have been frustrated not to be ahead, and coach John Herdman would have been aghast when Belgium took the lead out of nothing, a long ball over the top finding Batshuayi who made no mistake with a confident finish from inside the area.
There was still time for Canada to threaten an equaliser before the break, but Buchanan could only divert the ball over the crossbar on the slide after meeting a low cross.
Although his side held a narrow lead, Roberto Martinez reacted to Belgium’s out-of-sorts display by making two alterations, yet it did little to prevent Canada maintaining the momentum.
Jonathan David should have done much better with a header after being found by an outswinging cross, the first of several which were delivered into the penalty area.
However, with Canada throwing men forward, Belgium soon began to take advantage of the space at the other end, only for stray passes and players wanting too much time costing them when the openings were there to double their lead
With 10 minutes left, Johnstone created a chance for Canada substitute Cyle Larin, who did everything right with his header only to see Courtois make a comfortable save to his right.
Kevin De Bruyne endured somewhat of an off night for Belgium, and the playmaker should have at least found the target when lashing a venomous effort towards goal when in space on the edge of the area.
Nevertheless, a below-par showing from the star man and his team mattered little as they eventually got over the line, Martinez sure to treat this occasion as a wake-up call ahead of what he will hope are better performances to come.
