Luis Enrique will not get carried away with Spain’s seven-goal win
Spain boss Luis Enrique said that “praise weakens you” when discussing his team’s performance in their opening match of the 2022 World Cup.
A dominant La Roja recorded a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday, with the result moving the 2010 world champions to the top of Group E ahead of Japan.
Ferran Torres scored twice for Spain, while Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata also registered for the Reds.
Spain will now switch their attention to Sunday’s clash with Germany, who suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan in their opening match of the competition.
Enrique has praised his players for their performance against Costa Rica, but the national team manager has called for calm despite the shock nature of the scoreline.
“We have put special emphasis on preparing for the competition well and it has turned out well for us. It is usually difficult for us to start competitions, but we have done very well. It has been a very important victory.”
Asensio started as the centre-forward for Spain, while Olmo was also handed a surprise spot in the XI, and both players were on the scoresheet.
Morata, meanwhile, came off the bench to register late on, with the 30-year-old making it 28 goals for the national side.
Enrique has said that his side do not have “a clear scoring reference”, but the 52-year-old is certain that there are enough goals in the squad to enjoy a successful tournament.
“I had always read that there was a lack of goals. We still don’t have a clear scoring reference, but we have many players who score goals,” he added.
Spain won their first World Cup in 2010, but they have disappointed in their last two tournaments, exiting in the group stage in 2014 before only reaching the round of 16 four years ago in Russia.
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