In the first game of Group C at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, superior Spaniards gave Costa Rica no chance. In New Zealand’s capital Wellington, the southern Europeans achieved an unchallenged 3-0 (3-0) win – and thus set the first exclamation point on the way to the hoped-for title win.
The Spaniards were not seriously challenged by the Central Americans for the entire season on Friday (07/21/2023) at the Regional Stadium. The fact that 29-year-old star player Alexia Putellas from FC Barcelona was missing from the starting eleven after recovering from her cruciate ligament rupture did not change that. “La Furia Roja” (“The Red Fury”) was able to score the highest win of the tournament so far against opponents who were overwhelmed, especially before the break.
It was the first step for the Spaniards to forget the disappointing performance at last year’s European Championship in England with the quarter-finals elimination and elimination in the round of 16 at the 2019 World Cup. This year, that is the declared goal, the sixth in the world rankings want to be there until the end and, if possible, celebrate their first title win at a world championship.
Costa Rica were under extreme defensive pressure from the start
After the kick-off by the Australian referee Casey Reibelt, it only took a few minutes for the Spaniards to create chances from their playful dominance with a lot of possession and quick combinations. Costa Rica, extremely defensive in a 5-4-1, could not prevent the first attempts by Aitana Bonmati (7th) and Esther (9th) in the penalty area, when Ivana Andres headed after a corner, keeper Daniela Solera made a strong save (11th).
Del Campo’s own goal puts Spain ahead
Since the world number 36. from Costa Rica could not stop the wing play of the Iberians in the further course of the game, but goals were then almost inevitable: After a low cross from Esther from the left, Valeria del Campo deflected the ball into her own goal (21st), only 119 seconds later Aitana Bonmati from FC Barcelona scored her 17th international goal from the middle of the penalty area to make it 2-0 for Spain. After the final whistle, she was named “Player of the Match”.
Only keeper Solera puts up serious resistance
Costa Rica beat Spain 1-1 in the first group match at the 2015 World Cup. They were miles away from that this time. In their own penalty area, they actually completely lost track of every attack by the southern Europeans. After a crossbar header from Jennifer Hermoso, Esther made it 3-0 (27′). In the meantime, only Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Solera had reason to be happy: On her 26th birthday, she saved a weak penalty kick from Hermoso (34′). Incidentally, it was the fifth penalty in the fifth World Cup game, three of which were awarded.
At the break, Spain had achieved an almost unbelievable shot on goal ratio of 25:1 against opponents who only relied on counterattacks. In view of this, the tally of three goals was almost paltry and should at least have annoyed coach Jorge Vilda Rodríguez.
Putellas comes on for 15 minutes
Costa Rica coach Amelia Valverde allowed her team to step up after the break, which gave the Spaniards more defensive work but also gave them more freedom in attack. Olga Carmosa hit the crossbar with his left (50′), keeper Solera saved in quick succession when Salma Paralluelo (56′), Olga and Ivana Andres (57′) had good chances. After that, the game flattened out – and only after Putellas came on (77th) did the Spaniards create a few more opportunities. At the final whistle, the Spaniards had 45 (!) shots on target in the statistics – a World Cup record. In the end, the women were a long way from the men’s 7-0 win against Costa Rica in the World Cup preliminary round in Qatar last winter.
Spain’s next opponents are Zambia
In the World Cup preliminary round group C, Spain still plays against Zambia (July 26) and Japan (July 31). If Putellas, Hermoso and Co. act as enthusiastically as in the opening game, then the co-favorites can certainly be counted on in the further course of the tournament.