Five-star Spain crush Costa Rica

Spain began their preparations for next summer's World Cup in style after they crushed Costa Rica 5-0 on Saturday.

See how the action unfolded at La Rosaleda with our liveblog!

Jordi Alba and Alvaro Morata gave Spain a two-goal lead inside 23 minutes, before David Silva helped himself to a brace after the break and Andres Iniesta completed the rout with a long-range effort.

Kepa Arrizabalaga debuted in goal for La Roja against Costa Rica, who were without Real Madrid's Keylor Navas between the sticks due to a thigh injury.

La Roja had played the Central Americans twice before and never lost to them, drawing their first meeting 2-2, before winning the second 2-1.

Spain debuted their new home kit, which had caused controversy due to the shade of blue on the jersey looking more like purple, making it appear to resemble the flag of Spain's Second Republic, when there was civil war in the country between 1936 and 1939.

Nonetheless, Silva’s low cross from the right made its way to Jordi Alba, who blasted a shot across the aptly-named Danny Carvajal in just the sixth minute.

Morata then eased past his opponent and got to Carvajal’s near post, but his close-range finish was pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Fortunately for the striker, he was at the right place at the right time to mop up the rebound from Silva’s cutback, which Carvajal had tried to parry away.

As for Costa Rica, Celtic right-back Cristian Gamboa was found unmarked at the back post down the right, but his cross-shot came a whisker away from being nodded past Kepa.

Gerard Pique attempted three headers in the first half, but he missed his first by a fraction, before failing to keep the next two down.

Isco, playing at his former ground, curled a free kick on target, but Carvajal tipped it over and followed it up by blocking Morata’s one-on-one.

Moments after Marc Bartra made a last-ditch intervention to deny Marco Urena in behind, a defensive misjudgement in Costa Rica’s box gifted Silva a shot, which he scored for a third Spanish goal.

Silva failed to tap in Iago Aspas’ low cross from the left, but he made no mistake when he won the ball back and angled a strike past Carvajal, even if the goalkeeper ought to have done better.

Iniesta drove into oceans of space and fired past Carvajal from distance to round off the victory, and he quickly made way for ex-Liverpool man Luis Alberto, who was given his Spain bow after an excellent start to the season with Lazio.

Carvajal was on hand to stop Aspas from netting at the death, but straight down the other end, Kepa kept out a low shot to preserve a clean sheet for La Roja.

Next up for Spain is a trip to World Cup hosts Russia on Tuesday, with Lopetegui’s side still unbeaten under his command.

Spain 5-0 Costa Rica

Alba 6, Morata 23, Silva 51, 55, Iniesta 73

Spain: Kepa; Odriozola, Pique (Bartra 46), Ramos (Nacho 46), Alba; Thiago, Busquets (Saul 46), Iniesta (Luis Alberto 74); Silva, Morata (Aspas 46), Isco (Asensio 65)

Costa Rica: Danny Carvajal; Gamboa, Waston (Gutierrez 63), Duarte (G Gonzalez 56), Calvo, Oviedo (Matarrita 66); Bolanos (Wallace 60), Borges, Tejeda, Venegas (O Rodriguez 75); Urena (Ortiz 56)

Referee: Sidiropoulos (GRE)

Tags Costa Rica Spain
La Liga - Club News