Key occasions
26 min Or possibly not: apparently they accomplished over 1,100 towards Russia (together with extra-time) in 2018.
25 min Spain are enjoying fantastically, and have already accomplished over 250 passes. With all of the damage time, they might effectively set a brand new World Cup report for accomplished passes.
Marco Asensio, Spain’s false 9, has doubled their lead. Jordi Alba’s exact cross discovered him 15 yards out, and he watched the bounce rigorously to sidefoot a first-time shot by the diving Navas and into the online. Navas in all probability ought to have performed higher; he received a good piece of it however solely may it push it into the nook.
GOAL! Spain 2-0 Costa Rica (Asensio 21)
And that’s two.
20 min Costa Rica are having a bit extra of the ball now, though they haven’t threatened to extend Unai Simon’s coronary heart price.
18 min “I was trying to come up with an explanation as to why Argentina, and now Germany, have looked so uninventive in the second halves of each of their matches,” says Andy Donald, “and the only thing I could come up with was that perhaps the bigger teams benefit more from a longer build up to the tournament. Even as I have written this, my theory is tenuous at best (also Spain have just scored). Maybe Spain will look clueless in the second half and I’ll be vindicated.”
There are so many uncommon variables at this World Cup that it’s onerous to attract conclusions this early, although I don’t assume the actual fact we’re having shock outcomes is in itself a shock. With all of the accidents, to not point out fatigue from the brutal schedule, it at all times felt like we would have a repeat of the 2002 group levels.
16 min The teenager Bennette costs down the left and wins a free-kick for Costa Rica. Campbell takes it, and Spain catch Calvo offside. It seemed tight really, however the assistant referee was sure sufficient to place the flag up.
15 min Here’s that Dani Olmo objective.
13 min A TV graphic exhibits that Spain have had 79 per cent of the possession – and that’s with 10 per cent ‘in contest’, which suggests Costa Rica have had 11 per cent.
Dani Olmo provides Spain the lead after a passing transfer that appeared to final without end. Tiki taka, tiki taka, tiki taka till ultimately Gavi’s scooped move deflected in the direction of Olmo within the space. He managed it delightfully on the flip and flipped it erotically over the outrushing Navas.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Costa Rica (Olmo 11)
To say it’s been coming can be fairly the understatement.
11 min Costa Rica are struggling to get out of their third, by no means thoughts their half.
9 min Pedri caresses a brief move into Asensio, who drags a first-time shot simply vast from about 15 yards. He didn’t hit it correctly but it surely nearly sneaked within the nook.
8 min “So – the great survivor, Sergio Busquets, makes it to his, what is it?” says Charles Antaki. “Surely in the hundred plus of international games. Congrats to him of course, an astounding talent; but it shows up a dearth of that kind of midfielder in Spain. Perhaps he is, as he always seems to be, just unique.”
I feel it’s his one hundred and fortieth cap. They do have a great substitute when Busquets retires, supplied they will discover somebody to exchange him at centre-back.
7 min As anticipated, it’s like a coaching train: Spanish assault towards Costa Rican defence.
5 min: Great likelihood for Olmo! Spain needs to be forward. Pedri, 35 yards from objective within the inside-left channel, floated an excellent move over the defence to search out Olmo on the appropriate fringe of the six-yard field. He cushioned a volley throughout Navas and some yards vast of the far put up. He could have seen it late because it dropped over the defender’s head, but it surely was nonetheless a terrific likelihood.
2 min Costa Rica are literally enjoying their common 4-4-2, not the 5-4-1 that we assumed after we noticed 5 defenders within the line up. It appears to be like like Keysher Fuller is definitely enjoying on the right-hand facet of midfield.
Costa Rica (4-4-2) Navas; Martinez, Duarte, Calvo, Oviedo; Fuller, Borges, Tejeda, Bennette; Campbell, Contreras.
Marco Asensio is the false 9 for Spain.
2 min “As a Rams fan of a certain vintage it’s difficult not to feel that Costa Rica aren’t quite as much fun now Paolo Wanchope has hung up his boots,” says David Hopkins. “Say, is that enough to justify posting a video of that goal at Old Trafford? You know you want to really.”
Oh go on then.
Now that’s what I name banter.
1 min Peep peep!
The captains, Sergio Busquets and Keylor Navas, say hiya within the centre-circle. I forgot to say that Gavi is about to interrupt Cesc Fabregas’s report and turn out to be Spain’s youngest-ever World Cup participant. You barely discover such issues, as a result of he’s a 28-year-old footballer in an 18-year-old’s physique.
“I also am using Guardian commentary as my Mandarin isn’t up to much!” writes Alexandra Fullerton. “Can’t wait, nailbiting stuff. Vamos La Sele! Pura Vida!!!!”
Not to place a downer on the entire thing, however we’re all going to die someday if Spain don’t win then their recreation towards Germany will likely be near an eliminator.
Enough chit-chat: the gamers are on the sphere, the followers are cheering themselves on the massive display, and it’s time for recreation two in el grupo de la muerte.
“Wait, you mean Joel Campbell is a real player?” sniffs Matt Dony. “I’d always assumed he was invented by Arsenal as some kind of benefits fraud or tax dodge that I didn’t fully understand.”
Did you vacation within the Kerguelen Islands in June 2014?
“Pedant alert that you are free to ignore: San Jose, Costa Rica is in the same time zone as Chicago, where the game will kick off at 10am.” writes Matt Burtz. “I believe you might have listed the time for San Jose, California. Too many cities named San Jose!”
They actually all look the identical, particularly if you do a half-arsed Google search whereas concurrently making an attempt to work out who’s enjoying because the right-sided centre-back for Costa Rica. God bless ADHD.
One phrase is used greater than every other to explain Spain’s soccer. It’s truthful to imagine Luis Enrique wasn’t a Menswe@r fan.
“First time emailer long time reader,” writes Aaron in Nashville. “You’re the funny Beatle of all the MBMers, so you’re my subtitler as I watch the game in Spanish. Because let’s face it, football is just more exciting in Spanish.”
I assume that’s a praise, my first of the last decade, so thanks! Wait, what?
Germany 1-2 Japan
Jamie Jackson had the considerable pleasure of being on the Khalifa International Stadium at present. Here’s his report.
Luis Fernandez Suarez is about to educate his third group at a World Cup: Ecuador 2006, Honduras 2014 and now Costa Rica.
I used to be so so impressed with Suarez. Just a incredible man; instantly felt like for those who have been a footballer that is the form of individual you’ll need to play for. https://t.co/L5IDNJQS4Z
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) November 23, 2022
Swot up, there’ll be a spot check earlier than the sport
Full time: Germany 1-2 Japan
The first recreation within the group of demise was a cracker: Japan got here from behind to win 2-1, and Germany are off Argentina within the last-chance saloon. Already. The nice Scott Murray was watching.
Team information
Rodri begins at centre-back for Spain, with both Ferran Torres or Marco Asensio as a false 9.
Costa Rica’s group consists of Sunderland’s thrilling teenager Jewison Bennette, in addition to just a few extra acquainted World Cup faces: Keylor Navas, Joel Campbell, Celso Borges and the remaining.
Spain (4-1-2-3) Simon; Azpilicueta, Rodri, Laporte, Albi; Busquets; Gavi, Pedri; Torres, Asensio, Olmo.
Substitutes: Balde, Carvajal, Fati, Eric Garcia, Guillamon, Koke, Llorente, Morata, Pino, Raya, Sanchez, Sarabia, Soler, Torres, Williams.
Costa Rica (potential 5-4-1) Navas; Martinez, Fuller, Duarte, Calvo, Oviedo; Campbell, Borges, Tejeda, Bennette; Contreras.
Substitutes: Alvarado, Chacon, Hernandez, Lopez, Matarrita, Ruiz, Salas, Sequeira, Torres, Vargas, Venegas, Waston, Wilson, Zamora.
Referee Mohammed Abdulla (UAE)
GET OUT OF MY SIGHT AND CLICK THIS LINK RIGHT NOW
Manchester City’s Rodri, who begins in defence at present, additionally spoke to Our Sid
Spain’s Rodri: ‘When you look at it from the point of view of players, [there’s] France, England: the market worth they’ve is unimaginable. But truthfully at a collective degree I feel we’re one of the best nationwide group, and that’s our trump card.’
By @sidlowe https://t.co/RewVX1lEs3
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) November 23, 2022
Sid Lowe’s interviews are constantly terrific. Here he chats with Unai Simon, Spain’s highwire goalkeeper.
Preamble
For most groups, the opening recreation of a World Cup is ceaselessly a cagey, forgettable affair. Just ask Denmark, Tunisia, Morocco, Croatia, Mexico and Poland. The Spanish nationwide group do issues in another way; after all they do. In the trendy period they’ve began their World Cup marketing campaign with every kind of memorable video games: belters (Nigeria 98, Portugal 18), beautiful defeats (Nigeria 98, Switzerland 10, Netherlands 14), spectacular false dawns (Ukraine 06), late twists (South Korea 94, Nigeria 98 yetabloodygain) controversial defeats (Brazil 86) – and, okay, a few cagey, forgettable affairs (Honduras 82, Uruguay 90, and sure Ruben Sosa’s penalty does nonetheless sometimes pop up on air site visitors management maps).
What will or not it’s at present? It’s tempting to anticipate a cushty win, like towards Slovenia in 2002, though we’ve made that mistake earlier than. It’s in all probability safer to dwell on Spain’s type than their substance. They’re a singular group, fearless tightrope walkers who preserve the ball higher than anybody on the planet. But additionally they – drink! – lack a dependable goalscorer.
Alvaro Morata’s report is best than you may assume, 27 in 57 video games (which incorporates 15 appearances as substitute) – however, genuinely good although he will be, I doubt even he would describe himself as ‘reliable’. And there’s a good likelihood he received’t begin at present anyway.
Morata scored the late objective towards Sweden that clinched Spain’s place in Qatar. It was fairly fraught – they’d to attract that final recreation in Seville, primarily due to a sluggish begin within the group – however they’re legitimately one of many favourites to win the competitors. Since you requested, they’re my tip, and I’ve gambled responsibly by putting £0.00 on them. They have been arguably one of the best group at Euro 2020, the place they misplaced to Italy on penalties within the semi-finals, and anybody who beats them must do a variety of work with out the ball.
Costa Rica recovered from a fair worse begin to qualify through a playoff towards New Zealand. Since taking up final yr, their charismatic Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez has used – and also you’ll like this – 77 gamers, together with 22 debutants. But he has developed a group with an attention-grabbing age profile, from 35-year-old Keylor Navas to the 18-year-old Jewison Bennette, who’re robust defensively and fancy their possibilities even in such a tricky group.
And why not. The final time Costa Rica have been in a gaggle of demise, with Italy, Uruguay and England in 2014, they received the bloody factor and have been a penalty shoot-out away from reaching the semi-finals.
Kick off 4pm GMT, 5pm in Madrid, 810am in San Jose, 7pm in Doha.
Discussion about this post