Manchester City’s David Silva stars as Spain lead Costa Rica a merry dance
The midfielder scores twice in 5-0 rout, while Jordi Alba and Alvaro Morata also get in on the act
Manchester City midfielder David Silva played a starring role as an irresistible Spain showed their class to thrash Costa Rica 5-0 in an international friendly.
Silva struck twice in the second half to further stretch the 2010 World Cup winners’ lead after Barcelona’s Jordi Alba had fired them into the lead in the sixth minute and Alvaro Morata had doubled their advantage midway through the first half.
Veteran midfielder Andres Iniesta rounded off the drubbing with a distance strike in the 73rd minute, although there was some concern on the Spain bench when Isco asked to be substituted after a brutal tackle from Kendall Waston.
In good news for Real Madrid fans, the midfielder did not appear to be seriously injured.
Coach Julen Lopetegui picked a near full-strength side for Spain’s first friendly since sealing their place in the 2018 World Cup finals with an almost perfect qualifying campaign.
He rested number one goalkeeper David de Gea to hand a debut to Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga but played an otherwise familiar side which steamrolled its way through qualifying by winning nine out of 10 games and remaining unbeaten.
