Young Spain squad routs Costa Rica 7-0 at World Cup finals
Luis Robles, Juanfran, Jordi Alba, Marco Asensio and Andres Guardado all scored twice as Spain, the defending World Cup champions, trounced their neighbors at the World Cup finals in Russia.
Luis Robles, Juanfran, Jordi Alba, Marco Asensio and Andres Guardado all scored twice as Spain, the defending World Cup champions, trounced their neighbors at the World Cup finals in Russia.
Spain’s national team returned Friday to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2006 to face Panama in a match the Spanish federation called their “own battle” over the issue of gay marriage.
“I think this is a battle that is not only ours, but Panama’s as well,” said Spanish soccer executive Jose Manuel Serrano. “Our job is to win the tournament, which we have always done. This is now a battle of the nations to defend the rights of their citizens who don’t agree with homosexuality. It’s not just a fight about what country is better or worse. It’s about the human rights of our fellow citizens.”
The Panama game was the first of four World Cup matches this year played between Spain and other countries, starting Sept. 1 with the United States vs. Germany in Dortmund, in Germany, and continuing with Brazil vs. Colombia Oct. 30 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before Panama’s game.
The Panama game also was the first of four World Cup matches this year played between Spain and other countries, starting Sept. 1 with the United States vs. Germany in Dortmund, in Germany, and continuing with Brazil vs. Colombia Oct. 30 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before Panama’s game.
The Panamanians were upset to be ousted from the group. Panama played with a squad of mostly players from the national team, while Spain had players from two other teams; the U.S. was in the second group with seven other teams.
“They’re not going to be happy or satisfied,” Serrano said. “We know that. This is not a big deal or a
