Record-setting performance from La Roja, as Spain dismantle Costa Rica in 3-0 group stage victory

A sea of red embrace Esther Gonzalez after her goal; Joe Serci/Getty Images

Wellington, NZ; Daniela Solera's heroics might have saved Costa Rica's face but they left without a point as Jorge Vilda's Spain emerged triumphant in a convincing 3-0 victory, topping Group C of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as a result. After 95 minutes of unrelenting offence from La Roja, the first breakthrough arrived from an unfortunate own goal by Valeria Del Campo in the 21st minute, followed by Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati and Esther Gonzalez scoring in the 23rd and 27th minute respectively.

The two sides have gone head-to-head in what was rhen a debut appearance for both teams in the 2015 edition of the tournament; a 1-1 draw preceded a series of results which saw Spain failing to reach the knockouts that year. This recent triumph would feel like redemption for the disappointment 8 years ago, as Spain set about establishing some benchmarks; highest number of shots (46), possession (80%) and touches in the opposition box (117) in a women’s World Cup game. One can’t help but feel that it doesn't get more Spanish than this, but several pundits noticed a lack of clinical finishing and composure in the final third from the women in red, given the huge disparity in the number of chances created and goals scored. But for an opening game, one can't help but also feel that this might be a first world problem. Especially given the controversies surrounding the national team in the buildup to this tournament, with fifteen players refusing to represent the nation unless head coach Jorge Vilda doesn’t get the sack. Three from those fifteen have changed their mind; with Batlle and Bonmati starting, and Caldentey on the bench.

From the moment the team sheets were out, it was clear how the match would progress, as Costa Rica went for a 5-woman backline. They were content in clustering in the middle of their half to redirect any attack to the flanks; the football equivalent to the foetal position. It didn't turn out to offer the desired level of protection as Spain, like a lock pick which would be the envy of every reputed burglar, simply had the answers to any question; quick passing, water-like position rotations and toying with their markers like play-doh, distorting their defensive shape to create pockets of space to run into. 

Del Castillo was a marauding presence on the flanks; Jose Breton/Getty Images

Costa Rica would manage to eke out some moments of protest against their one-sided thrashing by breaking into counters, like in the 10th minute when a long ball was redirected to find Hererra bursting in between the backtracking redshirts, but the resultant shot just awkwardly rolled wide posing no problems for Rodriguez, the Spanish goalie. Other than that, the first half, and the entire match for that matter seemed to consist of an endless series of crosses into the box from Spain, who got their first of 46 shots in the 6th minute, courtesy of Bonmati. A third-man combination on the left wing found Hermoso running free and driving a low cross in, only for Gonzalez's cheeky flick to get full style points, but miss the goal by mere inches. The 10th minute would see Real Madrid skipper Ivana Andres looking to head the ball from a corner, only for Solera to instinctively tip it over, on a day which saw her turn twenty-six. Through-balls would slice the Costa Rican backline like a hot knife, which would fizzle out due to unnecessary deliberation in taking a shot, as seen in the 16th minute. 

But Spain would get their reward eventually, as a pass to Bonmati was flicked right in the path of Esther Gonzalez, clearing the backline with a nicely timed run. Her low cross would not meet any of her teammates but poor Valeria Del Campo, her botched clearance resulting in an own goal in the 21st minute. And when it rains, it pours, with Spain doubling Costa Rican misery in just a couple of minutes, as Del Castillo made her way into the box from the right flank, drawing the defence as if possessing magnetism. Ending up in a cul-de-sac, Batlle would come to her rescue and cut back to Bonmati who pounced on it with her left foot, and Solera's outstretched figure was no match to the strike. 2-0.

(left) A comedy of errors resulting in the first goal; Catherine Ivill/Getty Images, (right) Bonmati was a force to be reckoned with, scoring the 2nd goal; Jose Breton/Getty Images

The hits kept on coming, with Gonzalez almost making it 3-0 as her header met Del Castillo's cross, prompting yet another cracker of a stop from Solera. The resulting corner got cleared away but only partially, with Solera tested again from Olga Carmona's long range effort. The game, unfortunately, would slip out of Solera's hands as Spain got their third in the chaos that ensued in the 27th minute, which saw Hermoso's header bounce off the crossbar, only to meet an unmarked Gonzalez who slotted it home from an awkward angle. No style points or theatrics this time, but I doubt anything comes prior to three points that matter. 

Gonzalez was a poltergeist off the ball, a goal-poacher on it; Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

The theatrics were more apparent in the 32nd minute, as Del Castillo was cornered by two Costa Rican defenders on the right flank. To their dismay, and perhaps lack of awareness, the ball would go right between them, seemingly nowhere. Only for that "nowhere" to be inhabited by a charging Bonmati, her cut back from the byline bouncing off Abelliera's head to Del Castillo again, who would effortlessly juggle the ball away from the defence as if playing in a casual five-a-side. She would be unable to make space for a shot herself, and would instead feed the ball to Carmona, her run interrupted by a sliding tackle in the box, winning a penalty amidst suspicions of simulation. This sequence lasted about 20 seconds, yet was a unabashed, unmistakable and marvellous display of Spanish football. La Roja would be defiantly denied a satisfactory climax to that sequence, as Solera acted as saviour again, saving Hermoso's strike from 12 yards. Two more chances would follow; a pirouette would lead to a blocked shot for Paralleulo after receiving Del Castillo's cross, and then in the 43rd minute, with Gonzalez's header nestled on the wrong side of the upper netting, before half-time arrived. While it was mostly a quiet evening for Rodriguez, apart from a scare in the buildup phase where Costa Rica won the ball in Spain's box, with their reward a mere throw in. Her counterpart on the other side of the pitch, however, would continue to be tested for 45 more minutes.

Solera was a brick wall, denying Hermoso from the spot; Marty Melville/Getty Images

Spain, to the utter surprise of no one, would resume proceedings pedal to the metal, winning the ball back right after kickoff with a last gasp clearance denying Gonzalez a 1v1 with Solera. Costa Rica, obviously desperate for some sort of consolation, would decide to make the mistake of committing more white shirts forward, punished instantly in a counter in the 50th minute, ending with Carmona's long range effort pinging off the crossbar, one of many long-range efforts from her. Paralleulo would then try her luck at the great goal raffle, a snaking run from the left flank to release a thunderous shot from her left foot, denied by Solera. Two more swings at goal; first by Carmona who shot from distance, and the second would follow some seconds later via Andres' header. Again, denied by Solera. 

Wunderkind Paralleulo was indispensable to Spain’s offence; Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Despite spending most of the match in their own half, Costa Rica would attempt to show that they still have some life in the form of a counter in the 59th minute, earning themselves a corner. But that was pretty much the end of it, as Spain were hungry for a fourth, and that desperation was evident in their movement and passing which was a bit hurried, even a bit sloppy now. Putellas would finally be introduced in the 77th minute amidst cheers, and a lovely one-two with Caldentey would result in something that was neither a shot, nor a cross, missing out both the bottom corner and Hermoso. There would be some more close shaves for Costa Rica, and a brilliant display of technique from Putellas, but Las Ticas would hang on till fulltime, with just a three-goal deficit, a testament to the relentless Spanish offence, and Solera's impressive retaliation, something so taxing that she had to nurse a cramp in the final 20 minutes. And may I remind you again, there were complaints that the Spanish were slacking a bit.

With such a brazen display of intent, Spain will now have a good platform to polish their game, as sides like Japan won’t allow any room for sloppiness and deliberation. Costa Rica on the other hand can only learn from this experience, and maybe celebrate Solera’s mighty performance along with her birthday. Despite the one-sided nature of this fixture, one can’t help but be excited at more and more names being added to the expanding list of favourites to win the trophy. The knockout stages are posing to be a true clash of the titans.