Points go begging as Dream Team World Cup gaffers underestimate Spain prior to 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica
WHY be Argentina or Germany when you could be Spain?
Where other big nations have stumbled out of the blocks and fallen flat on their faces, Luis Enrique’s side have got away like Usain Bolt – okay, so the Jamaican sprinter wasn’t known as a great starter but you get the point.
Granted, Costa Rica looked leggy from the get-go but La Roja turned on the style to register a 7-0 win and send a warning shot out to the other World Cup favourites.
Prior to the game, ITV pundit Gary Neville said “there’s no goals in this team” in reference to Spain’s fluid front three of Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Marco Asensio – the trio combined for four goals before the hour mark.
gettyA swaggering start for Spain[/caption]
The tremendous Gavi scored the pick of the bunch before substitutes Alvaro Morata and Carlos Soler got in on the act.
Needless to say, there were plenty of Dream Team World Cup points to go around, 109 of them to be exact, with four players bagging double-digit hauls.
Olmo banked 15 points thanks to a goal, assist and the Star Man award – the RB Leipzig midfielder was something of a surprise selection and he currently features in just 1% of teams.
Torres took home 13 points for his brace and a 7+ rating – the 22-year-old is probably the most nailed-on starter in the front three so expect his ownership of 4.5% to rise in the coming days.
Jordi Alba is one of the more experienced players in what is generally a youthful squad and he showed his class be providing one assist and winning a penalty (which also counts as an assist in Dream Team World Cup if the spot-kick is converted).
The decorated left-back also benefited from his side’s clean sheet to pocket 12 points – he was in contention for the Star Man award until Olmo pipped him late on.
Spain’s Star Man on the night
And Morata managed to secure ten points despite only coming off the bench midway through the second half as he cashed in with a late goal and assist.
The Atletico Madrid striker would probably have started the game had he not complained of mild cold-like symptoms in the days leading up to the game – it will be interesting to see whether he features in the eleven named to face Germany from the off.
What’s clear is that Dream Team World cup bosses have underestimated Spain up until this point.
Pedri is the La Roja’s most-popular player in the game and his ownership currently sits at 6.7%.
Squint long enough and you’ll see Xavi and Andres Iniestagetty
Normally, the fact Spain play Germany in their next game would be a deterrent but it’s Hansi Flick’s side who should be worried about Sunday night’s match-up.
Die Mannschaft have found clean sheets hard to come by this year and Spain’s host of technically-gifted midfielders will be licking their lips having seen Niklas Sule, Nico Schlotterbeck and company tie themselves in knots in the second half against Japan.
Expect plenty of Dream Team World cup managers to follow the points in the coming days.
