Spain will be a pain in Russia

Lopetegui’s men give five-star show in Costa Rica thrashing

Spain’s stunning form under coach Julen Lopetegui continued as David Silva scored twice in a 5-0 friendly thrashing of Costa Rica in Malaga.

Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Alvaro Morata also netted in a one-sided display from the 2010 world champions on Saturday.

The only negative for Spain was the sight of local hero Isco being asked to be substituted after being hit with a tough tackle from Costa Rica defender Kendall Waston, who was immediately hauled off after being booked for the challenge.

The Real Madrid midfielder, who is from Malaga and spent two impressive seasons playing at La Rosaleda before moving to Madrid, was given a standing ovation as he left the pitch.

Isco has withdrawn from the Spain squad for tomorrow’s friendly away to due to a thigh injury.

“The medical services of his club, who have been informed by the doctors of the national team, will be the ones who will assess the treatment that the player must follow from now,” the Spanish Football Federation said in a statement.

The 25-year-old, who has been a shining light in an otherwise disappointing season so far for Real, now faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s La Liga derby at city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Against Costa Rica, Lopetegui opted to rest Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, instead handing a first team debut to Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, but otherwise played a familiar-looking team to the side that swept to the top of their World Cup qualifying group. Silva, Isco and Iniesta combined to stunning effect throughout the game, with the Manchester City midfielder laying on the pass for his former Valencia teammate Alba to thrash past Costa Rica’s stand- in goalkeeper Danny Carvajal in the sixth minute.

Carvajal was deputising for the injured Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas and had a torrid night.

He spilled a Silva shot into the path of Morata for Spain’s second midway through the first half.

Silva’s tidy finish from a narrow angle made it 3-0 early in the second half, before shots from distance by Iniesta and Silva again sealed the rout.

— Reuters / AFP Red hot: Spain’s Andres Iniesta (right) celebrating with David Silva after scoring the fifth goal against Costa Rica in the friendly in Malaga, Spain, on Saturday. Spain won 5- 0. Inset: Jordi Alba tucking the ball inside his shirt after scoring.