Spain and Belgium, two of the favourites, went down different paths to claim their first win at the 2022 World Cup. Both teams are champions in Group E and Group F. Costa Rica’s Matador team cannot be contained at Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Wednesday (11/23/2022).
A few hours later, Belgium had to fight hard to pick perfect points from Canada at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Thursday (11/24/2022). The first-mentioned team successfully feasted on seven goals without reply. The record for the biggest win so far is in Qatar, surpassing England’s 6-2 win over Iran. At the same time improving La Furia Roja’s previous best record when silencing Belgium in the 1998 World Cup France with a final score of 6-1.
If we pay attention to the match statistics, Spain is so superior. In all respects. With more qualified players, starting with Unai Simon in goal, the quartet of Cesar Azpilicueta, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, and Jordi Alba in defense. Then the trio of Pedri, Sergio Busquets and Gavi in midfield to support Ferran Torres, Marco Asensio and Dani Olmo up front.
Compare this with Costa Rica, which only relies on Keylor Navas as an experienced and proven player at the European elite level.
The superiority of Navas, who was once Real Madrid’s first choice and is now competing at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), was unable to stop Olmo, Torres, Gavi, Soler, and Morata from scoring goals. Likewise, the Costa Rican midfielders were unable to compete with the charm named Pablo Martin Pez Gavira aka Gavi. Like when he played for Barcelona, the 18-year-old did not lose his touch, accuracy, speed and dexterity.
Gavi can mix with his best friend Pedro Gonzalez Lopez or Pedri and his seniors at both levels, both club and national team, Busquest. Spain really controlled almost all lines. This is reflected in both ball possession, opportunities, goals, to passes and passes.
From bbc.com data, Spain has 80 percent ball possession. Had 17 shots, with eight of them on target. This situation is in contrast to Costa Rica who was depressed throughout the match and was unable to find an opening to provide a counter threat.
The dominance of possession that characterizes Spain, is also emphasized by their superiority in passing. It was noted that Luis Enrique’s fleet was able to release more than 1,000 passes, 1,060 to be exact, with an almost perfect level of accuracy, namely 998.
Costa Rica is really in a difficult situation. Losing in all aspects makes their game undeveloped. Luis Fernando’s team could only carve out 166 accurate passes. Inferior, depressed and passive Costa Rica finally became victims of Spain’s slick game, Spain started the World Cup sweetly, opening their chances of passing the challenge in this “hell group”. Capital is important for Spain to face the “big match” against an injured team, namely Germany.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica must rise if they don’t want to become a barn for points for Japan, which in the first match managed to surprise the world with a 2-1 victory over the world champions, Germany, as Saudi Arabia did in Argentina.
To be honest, nothing can save Costa Rica from trouble more than luck. Compared to the other contestants in this group, it was clear they were the “underdogs.” They qualified for the finals in Qatar after winning the play-offs over New Zealand.
The only thing that can be relied on is their experience as a subscription to the World Cup with a major achievement occurring in the 2014 edition by becoming a quarter-finalist. For Spain, does this big win with amazing statistics make them really count as title contenders?
Some think the power of Spain has not been tested. They didn’t face a team of equal strength. However, there are those who consider it positive. Keeping an opponent from moving, scoring more than half a dozen goals and not getting a single chance to make a threat on goal, is an achievement in itself.
Spanish football expert, Guillem Balague, launched bbc.com, said Spain appeared perfect. After the third goal, the opponent immediately threw a white towel.
“But how many shots on target for Costa Rica? Or efforts? Zero. At the World Cup you don’t get performances like this, in the same way you don’t get the kind of performances England gave against Iran.”
For Spain, behind the three points, there is a record reversal. In the previous three editions they have always lost in the opening match, including in South Africa in 2010 ago.
Interestingly, on the African continent at that time, they could then talk many even reach the championship ladder. Different fates were experienced by two giants who had also tasted the sweetness of being world champions, Germany and Argentina, who fell in the first match.
In my opinion, the first match was a warm-up, although we can’t deny the statistics and final results. As a competitor to the title or not will be determined in the next matches. Statistics are different when Belgium faced Canada. Belgium, full of star players from the golden generation, such as Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi, and many others, were unable to do as Spain did in Costa Rica.
Belgium could only score one goal, one minute before the first half was over. Starting from Toby Alderweireld’s long pass, Batshuayi was greeted with a hard shot into the right corner of the Canadian goal which was guarded by Milan Borjan.
Canada, who lost narrowly in possession, 46 to 54, played more aggressively. They had 22 shots with three of them on target, the same number that Belgium made from nine attempts. Canada, which was handled by England’s John Herdman, almost made a surprise. It happened when they were awarded a penalty when the game had only been running for 10 minutes. Unfortunately, Alhonso Davies’ kick was thwarted by Courtois.
Next it was Atiba Hutchinson’s turn, Alistair Johnston, and Tajon Buchanan, some of Canada’s golden opportunity owners in the first half. The sobriety problem results in a bad ending. After Belgium scored a goal, they didn’t automatically double it. And vice versa. In a lagging situation, Canada has not lost hope.
This match, as reflected in the data above, became one of the interesting spectacles, even though it brought together two teams with disparity in ammunition and world rankings that were so uneven. “Canada deserve to be better than us in the way they play,” said Roberto Martinez, the Belgium coach.
Belgium has a good start-up capital. The Red Devils currently top Group F, ahead of Croatia and Morocco who have to share the points. Canada, who is languishing at the bottom of the standings, remains an opponent to be reckoned with in the following matches. Even though they are in 41st position in the world, what has been done to the world number 2 owner is a sign that should be read by Croatia and Morocco.
The Canadian coach was disappointed with the final result. However, not in the way they play. “These players made a change, they showed they can live on this stage. They made the fans proud and made them feel like they were here and that’s important to us. I showed them the stats and showed them they deserved to be there. here,” said Herdman.
From Canada, Belgium learned a lot. The golden generation was no longer as expected. We see how Canada shows that there is vulnerability and weariness among these great talents. Belgium seems to run out of gas which makes them lose quickly and easily run out of energy when attacked.
Yes, Belgium still relies on players who are not young anymore. Alderweireld is 33 years old, while Veronghen is two years his senior. These two players are so reliable at club level with such a busy schedule that they are about to fly to the Middle East.
The Spaniard must be able to maximize opportunities, especially when Romelu Lukaku can already be played. His golden opportunity to end the wait for a golden generation of glory since he took charge of the team in 2016 is nearing its end.
