SPAIN 5 - COSTA RICA 0 | INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

SPAIN played COSTA RICA tonight in a Friendly International in the Spanish city of Malaga. The final result was 5 - 0 victory for the local side. Total domination by Spain which experienced just a couple of chances to the visitors which failed to convert their limited goal opportunities. 

The starting 11 team for Spain was:

In the second half Spanish players Batra, Nacho, Asensio, Aspas, Saul & Luis Alberto got a run. Good warm up match for Spain as they begin planning for next years World Cup finals in Russia.

The names to highlight was DAVID SILVIA who put in a blinder with two goals & ISCO who was magical until taken off mid second half after a hard tackle from WASTON. The Real Madrid player will undergo medical checks but it looks like a knock at this stage & may be able to play next weekend clash against Atletico de Madrid.

The goalscorers tonight were:

• Jordi Alba 6th min , 1 - 0
• Alvaro Morata 22nd min, 2 - 0
• David Silva 51 st min, 3 -0
• David Silva 55th min, 4 - 0
• Andres Iniesta 73rd min, 5 - 0

Spain will continue with their International preparation games next Tuesday when they travel to St Petersburg to play Russia.

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SPAIN 2 COSTA RICA 1 | INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY GAME

Spain hosted Costa Rica tonight in an International Friendly match that served as a "warm-up" for the upcoming & important Euro 2016 Group match against Belarus. Final result a 2 - 1 win for the Spanish National Football Team that could have been more had Costa Rica & Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas not made 4-5 spectacular saves. The Costa Rican goalie seemed to be sending a message out that perhaps the "true" substitute goalie for Iker Casillas is already at Real Madrid, instead of buying & bringing in another, the speculated David De Gea who watched from the other end of the field.

Spain began with a mixed team, with more substitutes than regulars.  The Spain starting XI was : 

De Gea; Carvajal, Bartra, Ramos, Bernat; San Jose, Koke, Cesc; Aleix Vidal, Nolito & Alcacer

Costa Rica caught Spain sleeping early scoring via Venegas but Spain reacted quickly & equalized through Alcacer & later went ahead via Fabregas:

Goals:
5th min Venegas 0 - 1
7th min Alcacer 1 - 1 
30th min Cesc Fabregas 1 - 2

The second half Spain dominated play & Keylor Navas put on his particular show of saves that kept the scoreline as it was until the end. Spain relaxed towards the final minutes & Costa Rica could have equalized but Bryan Ruiz missed a clear opportunity. 

Spain suffered some injuries with Vidal - debut match - suffering a back knock & Pique a muscle itch after coming on in the mid 2º half.

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SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM LIST | BELARUS & COSTA RICA

Spanish National Football Team Selector & Coach Vicente del Bosque announced today the list of 24 players for the upcoming International Friendly match against Costa Rica (Leon, 11th of June) & the all important Euro 2016 Group qualifier against Belarus (Borisov 14th of June. 

The principal novelties are the names of two Sevilla FC players, goalkeeper Sergio Rico & midfielder Aleix Vidal.

Complicated calendar as some important players will be on holidays (or CL Final duties) & will have to fly back to group up & prepare the matches. Lets hope this does not affect the Spanish Team performance especially against Belarus.

Full list of 24 names:

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid) De Gea (Manchester United) Sergio Rico (Sevilla)

Defenders: Juanfran (Atlético) Carvajal (Real Madrid) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) Pique (Barcelona) Bartra (Barcelona) Jordi Alba (Barcelona) Bernat (Bayern) San Jose (Athletic)

Midfielders: Koke (Atlético) Busquets (Barcelona) Silva (Manchester City) Isco (Real Madrid) Cazorla (Arsenal)
Fabregas (Chelsea) Iniesta (Barcelona) Pedro (Barcelona) Vitolo (Sevilla) Aleix Vidal (Sevilla)

Forwards: Alcacer (Valencia) Morata (Juventus) Nolito (Celta).

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COSTA RICA 2 SPAIN 2 | INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Spanish International & Real Madrid Goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS played his 127 International match for the SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM against COSTA RICA to make him the highest "capped" player in SPANISH FOOTBALL History.

However COSTA RICA nearly "rained" on the special day for Casillas & the current World Champions drawing with  SPAIN 2 - 2 & again lifting Spanish eye-brows & some enquiring questions. Costa Rica played an excellent match & were more motived than the Spaniards who looked slow & sloppy, something unusual in the first 45 mins. The Spanish Team has become predictable & opponents can figure out what & where they need to tighten the screws to make Spain suffer for their victories. This,  & the lately acquired habit of Spain insisting in attacking via the middle makes the FIFA World Champions smash into the opponents defensive wall. But to Spain´s credit they managed to comeback with pride in the 2º half when they changed the playing style & finally used the wings. 

Brenes

Costa Rica did their initial damage in the 1ºst half being very aggressive, blocking the Spanish ball dominance & working their counter-attacking style. The first goal came via a Casillas mistake that allowed RANDELL BRENES to chip over for the first goal in the 30th min. 

Campbell

Costa Rica continued with their game plan & JOEL CAMPBELL curled a "beauty" out of reach of a stretching Casillas. The Spanish defence was not looking good at this stage.

The 2º half saw Spain change tactically & bring on right winger Navas (for Mata) , Cazorla (Xavi), Busquet (for Xabi Alonso)...pushing Iniesta to the left wing. Spanish Coach Del Bosque was looking to break the "go through the middle" habit & it seemed to work. The Spaniards increased their efficiency further when David Silva came on & the chances of goal began to appear. David Villa & Iniesta had some really close calls as Costa Rica goalie Navas began working with some important saves & then the mistake by Costa Rica Coach Pinto that changed his set up to defend: Spain then was handed the iniciative.

David Villa

The goal chances began following - Ramos missed a header - & then Iniesta from his wing found DAVID SILVA who scored in the 83rd min. The equalizer came in the last moment via DAVID VILLA in the 90+ min. Spain saved by a hair.


Admirable the comeback by Spain which played a lot better in the second half & deserved their goals;  Costa Rica wrongly decided to only defend & pass the initiative to Spain when they were 2 goals ahead & finally some need for analysis of the Spanish play & attempt to rectify some bad habits before the big 2012 Euro Championships


Next International Friendly for Spain will be February 2011.

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