Spain made quick work of Costa Rica, ripping the nets for three first-half goals en route to a comprehensive 7-0 Group E triumph at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday.

Ferran Torres bagged a brace, scoring on either side of halftime. Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata also wrote their names on the scoresheet as the Spaniards set a team record for the most goals scored at a World Cup.

It also was the largest margin of victory to date of the 2022 competition.

The result does not bode well for the Ticos, whose chances to reach the knockout are virtually nil after that humiliating result, with games against Germany and Japan coming up. Japan upset Germany earlier in the day, 2-1, in the second World Cup surprise in as many days.

Considered one of the best goalkeepers on the planet, former Real Madrid netminder Keylor Navas could not stop on the onslaught on most of the scores.

Olmo started the rout in the 11th minute, with Spain’s 100th goal at the World Cup. Asensio caught Navas sleeping with 10 minutes later before Torres’ penalty kick gave Spain a commanding three-goal halftime advantage.

The match was essentially over by then, but the relentless Spanish side continued to make life miserable for Costa Rica.

Torres made it 4-0 with his second goal in the 54th minute.

Gavi, 18, became the youngest player to score a World Cup goal, in the 74th minute, since a 17-year-old Pele tallied at the 1958 World Cup.

Second-half substitutes Soler (90th minute) and Morata (two minutes into second-half stoppage time) finished off the contest.

Concacaf teams have gotten off to a less than stellar start in the competition as they are winless in their opening three matches. The United States lost a one-goal lead and settled for a disappointing 1-1 draw with Wales on Monday. Mexico followed that up with a scoreless draw with Poland on Tuesday.

And now this slaughter.

Canada, which is participating in its first World Cup since Mexico 86, will try to be the first Concacaf side to register three points in the World Cup when it meets Belgium in its Group F opener on Wednesday.

 

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.