Live Update: Spain 2 - Costa Rica 0 - World Cup Update
Live Update: Spain 2 - Costa Rica 0 - World Cup Update
Jordi Alba
Assist
21' Assist Jordi Alba Ramos
Marco Asensio
Goal
21' Goal Marco Asensio Willemsen
19' Campbell gives up a promising position on the right by wandering down a cul-de-sac, and after he cuts back inside finds himself crowded out by numerous red shirts. There has been little for the Costa Rica contingent to get excited about yet.
17' As a measure of their supremacy so far today, Spain have had 87 per cent of possession over the opening 15 minutes of their Group E opener.
15' A strong burst from teenage winger Bennette down the left earns Costa Rica a free-kick inside the Spain half when he is bundled over; offering a welcome breather from their defensive duties.
13' Without missing a beat, after opening the scoring Spain resume their utter dominance of the ball, and their opponents are simply chasing shadows at the moment. It's mesmerising stuff from Luis Enrique's men!
Dani Olmo
Goal
11' SPAIN LEAD! As reward for their incessant attacking from the first whistle, La Roja go ahead early on! Gavi finds a yard of space just outside the area and chips a delicate ball over the top, which then deflects into the path of Olmo, who calmly steers the ball past an exposed Navas! Spain's 100th World Cup goal puts them 1-0 up!
9' CLOSE! A masterful first-time reverse pass by Pedri picks out Asensio in the centre, but the makeshift forward snatches at his shot, which drifts just wide of the right-hand post with Navas diving down to his left at full stretch.
7' Fuller blocks Olmo's cross from the left side of the area, and Costa Rica are able to break up the Spanish attack and clear their lines.
5' MISS! A perceptive ball across from the left-centre by Pedri drops perfectly into the path of Olmo, who charges in to meet it at the far post. However - unmarked - he side-foots the ball wide of the left-hand post before grasping his head in his hands! That's a great chance spurned early on!
4' Laporte is over-eager in his attempts to win the ball from Campbell inside the Costa Rica half, and concedes a free-kick.
2' Immediately, Spain take control of possession, and Oviedo has to make a well-timed challenge on the left side of the box to tackle Torres and concede a corner.
1' Spain kick off, and we are under way in Al Thumama!
The players are out on the pitch, having observed both national anthems, and kick-off is now just moments away!
Costa Rica also select their youngest-ever player in a World Cup fixture, as winger Bennette - just 51 days older than Spain's Gavi - features on the flank. Captain Ruiz has played in eight World Cup matches across the 2014 and 2018 editions, and now ties Christian Bolanos as Los Ticos' record-holder in terms of appearances. At 37, he is also the oldest player to turn out for the Central American nation at the finals; today lining up on the left of a probable five-man back line.
As expected, Spain have named their youngest ever player to play in a World Cup match, as Gavi (18 years 110 days) features in a midfield trio, joining club-mates Busquets and Pedri. Meanwhile, Manchester City midfielder Rodri starts at centre-back, with Asensio selected ahead of Morata to play in the centre of a front three - though Luis Enrique says his position should not be described as a 'false nine'. Azpilicueta beats Carvajal to a start at right-back.
SUBS: Esteban Alvarado, Daniel Chacon, Anthony Hernandez, Douglas Lopez, Ronald Matarrita, Bryan Ruiz, Youstin Salas, Patrick Sequeira, Gerson Torres, Juan Pablo Vargas, Johan Venegas, Kendall Waston, Roan Wilson, Alvaro Zamora.
COSTA RICA (5-4-1): Keylor Navas; Carlos Martinez, Francisco Calvo, Oscar Duarte, Keysher Fuller, Bryan Oviedo; Joel Campbell, Yeltsin Tejeda, Celso Borges, Jewison Bennette; Anthony Contreras.
SUBS: Robert Sanchez, David Raya, Alejandro Balde, Dani Carvajal, Ansu Fati, Eric Garcia, Hugo Guillamon, Koke, Marcos Llorente, Alvaro Morata, Yeremo Pino, Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler, Pau Torres, Nico Williams.
SPAIN (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Cesar Azpilicueta, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, Jordi Alba; Pedri, Sergio Busquets, Gavi; Ferran Torres, Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo.
Costa Rica first competed in the World Cup finals in 1990, when they managed to reach the last 16, before being eliminated at the group stage in both 2002 and 2006. Four years ago, Los Ticos also departed after three games, though they famously reached the quarter-finals in 2014 - finishing ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England to qualify for the knockout phase. Coach Luis Fernando Suarez is now making a third World Cup appearance in the dugout, having also led Ecuador and Honduras into global finals, and his team's 1-0 win over New Zealand in June's intercontinental play-offs helped Costa Rica become the last team to qualify for Qatar.
Champions for the first time in 2010, Spain get their latest World Cup campaign under way here, having been eliminated in the group stage and then exited in the last 16 during the past two finals. Beaten by hosts Russia four years ago, La Roja have since reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 under former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique. More recently, they concluded their Nations League programme with a 1-0 win over Portugal in September, which saw them finish top of their group and advance to next year's semi-finals.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's World Cup Group E clash between Spain and Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium!
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