Fifa World Cup 2022: Stunning Spain thrash Costa Rica 7-0 to join 100 club

The European giants were in control from the first kick, with goals from Dani Olmo, Gavi, Marco Asensio, Carlos Soler, Alvaro Morata and Ferran Torres

The relentless onslaught help Spain put their stamp on a Group E stunned by Japan’s 2-1 victory over Germany hours earlier

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Gavi (left) and Jose Gaya of Spain celebrate during the Group E match between Spain and Costa Rica at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Doha on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 3:19am, 24 Nov 2022Updated: 4:02am, 24 Nov 2022

Former champions Spain got their World Cup off to a pulsating start on Wednesday through a record 7-0 win over Costa Rica, with a Ferran Torres brace and strikes from five other players taking them past the 100 goal mark in soccer’s showpiece event.

The European giants put their stamp on a Group E stunned by Japan’s 2-1 victory over Germany hours earlier, with Spain relentlessly on the attack against a shambolic Costa Rican side.

Scores from Dani Olmo, Gavi, Marco Asensio, Carlos Soler, Alvaro Morata and Torres sent Spain into the 100 club of World Cup goals – and a victory by their biggest margin in their 16 appearances in the contest.

“I don’t think it was Costa Rica being bad, I think the win was our merit. We deserved to win, taking the game to them,” Olmo said. “Our team is strong and that is the path we need to follow. It was a boost of motivation, for sure.”

Spain’s Dani Olmo (right) jumps over Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas to score his side’s first goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Spain and Costa Rica at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Spain were in control from the first kick, with Costa Rica dizzied by their early onslaught at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha and unable to find any rhythm in a game where Pedri, Olmo, Gavi and Asensio all dazzled.