NOW READ MARTIN SAMUEL’S VIEW
Joint-worst defeat in history
Spain hit argentina for six with a hat-trick from isco and goals from Diego Costa, iago aspas and Thiago alcantara. it was an embarrassing defeat for an argentina side desperately missing the injured Lionel Messi — but Chelsea’s alvaro Morata could yet be the biggest loser.
He now has a mountain to climb to make the plane for Russia with Costa opening the scoring and aspas inspired in the second half.
On this evidence, argentina don’t have a prayer unless Messi is fully fit and ready to perform miracles.
Costa bulldozed the ball over the line on 12 minutes to give Spain the lead from Marco asensio’s assist.
it was a classic Costa goal. He clashed with Manchester United keeper Sergio Romero and received lengthy treatment. He finally hobbled back on to applause before sprinting to the next loose ball.
argentina were not helping themselves in the first half, trying to play out from the back with Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo and Manchester City’s nicolas Otamendi caught out for both early goals. Chelsea’s Willy Caballero, now on in place of Romero, who failed to recover from the Costa clash, picked the ball out of the net after asensio crossed from the right for isco to score. There were chants of ‘Ole!’ with every Spain pass before the half hour mark but argentina pulled a goal back before the break when Otamendi rose to head a corner past David de Gea. De Gea seemed to be beaten by the bounce of the World Cup ball, which is already proving unpopular with keepers. aspas set up the inspired isco to get the second and he made the third for alcantara as Spain showed the sort of form that make them favourites in Russia with isco influential. nicolas Tagliafico kicked him once too often and was booked although isco followed him into the book for his reaction. English referee anthony Taylor should have then sent the defender off as he scythed down aspas moments later. aspas had the last laugh getting on the scoresheet for the fifth and he then teed-up isco to complete his hat-trick. Spain will face tougher tests but this was some performance in the last game before coach Julen Lopetegui picks his squad. Star-man isco (left) can’t get in the Real Madrid side at the moment: ‘perhaps i’m not getting the continuity i need at club level,’ he said. But he’s on a roll for Spain, and so are Lopetegui’s sensational team.