Silva leads Spain's assault on Costa Rica

MALAGA (Reuters) - 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 on Saturday.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Spain v Costa Rica - Estadio La Rosaleda, Malaga, Spain - November 11, 2017 Spain’s David Silva celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Jon Nazca
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 although there was some concern on the Spain bench when Isco asked to be substituted after a brutal tackle from Kendall Waston although the Real Madrid midfielder did not appear to be seriously injured.

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui said he was unsure if Isco would travel to Russia for Tuesday’s friendly against next year’s World Cup hosts.

“Isco has a big knock, it’s not serious or important and we’ll decide tomorrow if he travels to Russia or not,” Lopetegui told a news conference.

“What I‘m most pleased about was our attitude and we need to keep it up. Every game will be a different world. We have to believe in the type of team we are and have faith in the things we do well.”

Lopetegui picked a near full-strength side for Spain’s first friendly since sealing their place in the 2018 finals with an almost perfect qualifying campaign.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Spain v Costa Rica - Estadio La Rosaleda, Malaga, Spain - November 11, 2017 Spain’s Andres Iniesta celebrates scoring their fifth goal with David Silva REUTERS/Jon Nazca
He rested No. 1 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.

A talent-filled midfield four of Silva, Iniesta, Thiago Alcantara and Isco ensured Spain monopolised possession in front of a buoyant, sold out crowd at Malaga’s La Rosaleda stadium, barely giving Costa Rica a look in.

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