54
18:14
Tooor for Spain, 4-0 through Ferrán Torres
51.
18:12
Spain combine for the opponent’s sixteen, but Costa Rica can then easily clear Gavi’s low cross.
48
18:10
First chance of the second half! After the Spaniards won the ball, Azpilicueta marches across half the pitch on his right. Gavi creates space in the center with his deep run, where Asensio is free and Azpilicueta alludes to him. Asensio is looking for a degree, but aims relatively clearly over the goal.
46
18:07
Costa Rica kicks off, the second half is on.
46
18:06
Kendall Waston comes on as a substitute for Costa Rica
46
18:06
Carlos Martínez is making a substitution for Costa Rica
46
18:05
Kick-off 2nd half
45
17:57
Mid-term conclusion:
Halftime in Doha! The 2010 World Champion started the tournament furiously and was leading 3-0 after just 45 minutes. The opponents from Costa Rica only got the necessary compactness into their game after the third goal and the change from a back four to a back five, but the Spaniards then didn’t play as much forward as before. The game should already be over, Spain has so far had complete control over the game and will probably not let Costa Rica come back.
45
17:51
Yet another chance to score before half-time! Once again it’s Pedri who dribbles towards the defense and alludes to the incoming Asensio in the penalty area. However, the Madrilenian misses his shot on the left quite clearly, and Costa Rica gets a goal kick.
45
17:48
The five-minute stoppage time is probably solely due to the three goals, there were no interruptions due to injury or the like in this first half.
45
17:45
Official injury time (minutes): 5
43
17:45
The game is currently rippling along. Spain is in possession of the ball, Costa Rica moves compactly, there were hardly any scenes worth mentioning in the last few minutes.
40
17:41
Costa Rica is now a little more compact defensively. Spain finds it harder to find gaps, but Costa Rica still can’t get the ball.
37
17:37
Misunderstanding between Pedri and Olmo. The young midfield strategist sees Olmo on the left wing and sends him down with a wide pass, the Leipziger would have preferred to get the ball in his foot.
34
17:34
A little over half an hour has been played and the game already seems to have been decided. Spain are clearly leading and don’t seem to want to downshift.
31
17:31
Tooor for Spain, 3-0 through Ferrán Torres
Ferrán Torres takes care of it, makes a small hop on the run-up and then loads Navas with a low shot into the left corner.
30
17:30
Penalty for Spain! Jordi Alba is brought down in the penalty area, the referee correctly points to the point.
28
17:29
Olmo knows how to please here so far, not least because of his brilliant goal. The Leipziger is very conspicuous and always has good ideas.
26
17:28
So he can also do it as a central defender! Rodrigo separates Bennette fairly from the ball with a strong tackle on the left wing.
24
17:26
An excellent performance by Furia Roja so far, which hardly lets the opponent get the ball. The criticism of the squad structure in advance should therefore be silent for the time being.
21
17:21
Tooor for Spain, 2-0 through Marco Asensio
Spain increased! Busquets finds the moved up left-back Alba with a volleyball, who crosses the ball flat towards the penalty spot. Asensio is spot on there and sinks the ball directly into the goal with his left. Navas can no longer fend off the low shot and has to reach behind him for the second time after 20 minutes.
17
17:18
Costa Rica are getting into the duels a little better now, there were a few fouls on both sides in the last few minutes.
14
17:17
The initial euphoria in Costa Rica, which could be felt at the national anthem, has now fizzled out. Spain is clearly the better team here and deservedly leads.
11.
17:11
Tooor for Spain, 1-0 through Dani Olmo
That was indicated, Spain is rewarded for a strong initial phase! Olmo moves in from the left and finds Gavi 20 yards from goal, chipping the ball into the box. With an ingenious ball transfer, the run-in Olmo turns around his own axis and closes in dry on the bottom left. A goal worth seeing and the deserved lead for the Spaniards.
8th.
17:11
Second chance for the favorite, again it’s about Pedri! The Barca star gets the ball just before the penalty area and forwards it to Asensio with the presence of mind. The number 10 looks for the end from about 13 meters, but does not hit the ball properly with the left and thus just misses the goal.
5.
17:07
The first big chance for the Spaniards! After a fine chip pass from Pedri from the half field, Dani Olmo comes to the end at the far post, but his volley goes wide to the left of the goal. There was more in it, but a good start for the Spaniards.
3.
17:06
The second central defender position is held by Rodrigo and not by captain Busquets.
1.
17:04
Spain toasts, the game is on!
16:59
The teams have just entered the field, first the Spanish national anthem sounds. Things get very emotional when the Costa Rican anthem is played – the pride of being able to represent their country at a World Cup is literally written all over the players’ faces.
16:55
The qualification went very differently for the two teams: While Spain prevailed in their group with 19 points from eight games and won the group, Costa Rica didn’t look like participating in the World Cup for a long time. Coach Luis Suárez’s side won just one of their first seven games before turning around and eventually qualifying for the finals via the intercontinental play-offs.
16:46
The opponents from Central America are certainly not a blank slate at World Cups, as they eliminated the great powers Italy and England in the group stage in 2014 and only narrowly failed on penalties in the quarter-finals at the hands of the Netherlands. Qatar features four players from that squad in Keylor Navas, Bryan Ruiz, Joel Campbell and Celso Borges, so the team has a lot of experience.
16:39
Of course, the 2010 world champion is the clear favorite going into the game and would like to put himself in a good starting position before the duel with Germany on Sunday. After the preliminary round in Brazil in 2014 and the equally sobering tournament in 2018, when they lost to hosts Russia in the round of 16, La Furia Roja has set the goal for the tournament in Qatar as nothing less than the world title. The dress rehearsal against Jordan was won 3-1, and the start of the tournament against Costa Rica should be just as successful.
16:34
The underdog from Costa Rica will probably play with a back five in front of goalkeeper and captain Keylor Navas. The experienced Joel Campbell, who played for Arsenal in the English Premier League, and the young rising star Jewison Bennette are two players to start on the attacking wings.
16:25
Ferrán Torres, Marco Asensio and Dani Olmo can start up front, while players like Álvaro Morata and Ansu Fati have to settle for a place on the bench for the time being.
16:19
Looking at the squad of the Spaniards, it is noticeable that with Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City there is nominally only one central defender in the starting XI. It’s safe to assume that captain Sergio Busquets will defend alongside him in central action, with Rodrigo likely to take his usual position in front of defence.
16:06
Welcome to Group E of the World Cup in Qatar! Following the defeat of the German national team against Japan, the other two teams in the group, Spain and Costa Rica, will meet. The game will be played at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, with kick-off at 5:00 p.m. German time.